Carlos Prates has achieved multiple UFC records in just eight fights. He became the fastest fighter in UFC history to register seven knockout victories, accomplishing the feat faster than heavyweights like Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, who needed nine fights. Prates also recorded 14 knockdowns in just 17 incomplete rounds, the highest average per 15 minutes in UFC history. Additionally, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than any fighter in history, needing only eight bouts compared to the average of 15. The analysis suggests that if Islam Makhachev defeats Ian Garry, Prates, and Shavkat Rakhmonov, he would surpass Jon Jones in the GOAT conversation.
Carlos Prates has carved his name into the UFC record books at a pace that has no historical equal, cementing a collection of knockout-related records across just eight Octagon appearances.
The Brazilian welterweight reached seven UFC knockout victories faster than any fighter in promotional history. To put that in perspective, former heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez — who finished his career 14-3 — and Junior dos Santos each needed nine fights to reach that same milestone. Prates did it in eight.
His finishing power extends beyond the scorecards. Prates has recorded 14 knockdowns in only 17 incomplete rounds of action, producing the highest knockdown average per 15 minutes in UFC history. He has also collected seven Performance of the Night bonuses in those same eight bouts, a rate that outpaces every fighter before him — the average fighter historically required 15 bouts to earn seven such bonuses.
Shavkat Rakhmonov, the third-ranked welterweight from Kazakhstan, enters the picture as one of three opponents discussed in connection with Islam Makhachev. The 31-year-old Nomad carries an unblemished 19-0-0 record, lands significant strikes at 3.25 per minute with a remarkable 60 percent accuracy rate, and operates out of a six-foot-four, 193-centimeter frame with a 77-inch reach — making him one of the most physically imposing and statistically complete fighters in the 170-pound division.
Why it matters
- Prates reaching seven UFC knockouts in eight fights surpasses benchmarks set by heavyweight legends, an extraordinary feat for a welterweight
- His 14 knockdowns across just 17 incomplete rounds represents the highest per-minute rate in UFC history, underlining elite finishing ability
- Analysis suggests a sweep through Prates, Ian Garry, and Rakhmonov could place Islam Makhachev ahead of Jon Jones — who holds a 28-1-0 record — in the all-time great conversation
- Rakhmonov's perfect record and physical tools make him among the most dangerous potential opponents in any such sequence
