Leon Edwards had never been knocked out in 28 fights before facing Carlos Prates. Li Jingliang had never been knocked out in 27 fights before facing Prates. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out on the feet before Prates, with his only TKO loss coming from ground strikes when he was exhausted. The post highlights Prates's ability to finish opponents who were previously considered durable, underscoring his knockout power and finishing ability. This adds to the narrative of Prates as one of the most dangerous strikers in the welterweight division.
Carlos Prates has quietly built one of the most remarkable finishing streaks in the welterweight division, stopping three opponents who had each entered their respective fights with ironclad durability records intact.
The Brazilian known as "The Nightmare" now holds a 24-7 record and is ranked fifth in the welterweight division at 32 years old. Prates fights out of Vale Top Team, stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, and connects on 55 percent of his significant strikes — an accuracy mark that helps explain why his finishing ability has translated against even the most durable opponents on the roster.
Leon Edwards had gone through 28 professional fights without ever being knocked out before running into Prates. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old veteran nicknamed "The Leech," carried a 27-fight record without a knockout loss before the same fate found him against Prates. Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, had never been stopped by strikes on the feet in his career. His only prior TKO loss had come via ground strikes while he was exhausted — a very different kind of finish than what Prates delivered.
Della Maddalena averages 5.57 significant strikes per minute and connects at 51 percent accuracy, making him one of the division's more active and precise volume strikers. That he became another name on Prates's list only amplifies what the Brazilian has accomplished.
Why it matters
- Prates has now finished three fighters who had no prior knockout loss on their records, demonstrating rare finishing power
- All three victims — Edwards, Jingliang, and Della Maddalena — were considered durable, experienced welterweights
- With a 78-inch reach and 55 percent striking accuracy, Prates presents a structurally difficult puzzle for opponents in the division
- His position at fifth-ranked welterweight, combined with this run of finishes, makes him a significant threat to anyone above him in the rankings
