Carlos Prates has achieved the rare distinction of knocking out three fighters who had never been finished before in their careers. Leon Edwards had never been knocked out in 28 fights prior to facing Prates. Li Jingliang had never been knocked out in 27 fights before meeting Prates. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out in stand-up before his bout with Prates, with his only TKO loss coming via ground-and-pound. Prates' finishing ability has made him one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC.
Carlos Prates has carved out a rare place in UFC history, becoming the first fighter to knock out Leon Edwards, Li Jingliang, and Jack Della Maddalena — three men who had never previously been stopped in the same fashion before crossing paths with the Brazilian welterweight.
The achievement speaks directly to the finishing power of Prates, known as "The Nightmare." The 32-year-old from Brazil carries a 24-7 record and currently sits ranked fifth in the welterweight division. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he strikes with a 55 percent accuracy rate — elite efficiency for a finisher operating at this level. He fights out of Vale Top Team and is a switch-stance striker who has recorded zero submission attempts throughout his UFC career, making his threat entirely stand-up in nature.
Edwards, the former welterweight champion, had gone 28 professional fights without being knocked out before Prates ended that streak. Li Jingliang, known as "The Leech," made it through 27 fights unfinished by strikes before suffering the same fate. The 38-year-old Chinese veteran stands six feet tall with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute. Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division and thirteenth pound-for-pound at just 29 years old, had never been stopped by a standing strike before his bout with Prates. The Australian out of Scrappy MMA lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, and his only prior TKO loss had come via ground-and-pound rather than a clean stand-up finish.
Why it matters
- Prates has now cracked the chin of three fighters widely considered exceptionally durable, underlining his standing as one of the division's most dangerous strikers
- With rankings at fifth in the welterweight division, Prates is firmly in contention for a title shot
- His switch-stance, long-reach style at 198 cm appears to create problems that even proven, durable welterweights have been unable to solve
