Carlos Prates has set several historic UFC records with his recent performances. He became the fastest fighter in UFC history to achieve seven knockout victories, doing so in just eight fights, surpassing heavyweights like Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos who needed nine. Prates also recorded 14 knockdowns in just 17 incomplete rounds, the highest rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. Additionally, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses in only eight fights, nearly twice as fast as the average. The post argues that if Islam Makhachev defeats opponents like Ian Garry, Prates, and Shavkat Rakhmonov, he could surpass Jon Jones in the GOAT conversation. Prates recently knocked out former champions who had never been finished before.
Carlos Prates has etched his name into the UFC record books, becoming the fastest fighter in promotional history to record seven knockout victories, achieving the milestone in just eight fights.
The Brazilian welterweight reached that mark quicker than any fighter before him, including celebrated heavyweights Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, both of whom required nine fights to reach seven knockouts. Prates has also accumulated 14 knockdowns across just 17 incomplete rounds, the highest knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. His finishing power has translated directly into hardware as well, earning seven Performance of the Night bonuses in eight appearances — a pace nearly twice as fast as the average UFC fighter. His most recent outings included knockout wins over former champions who had never previously been stopped.
Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked third in the welterweight division, enters the broader conversation as a potential future opponent for the champion. The undefeated Kazakh, 31, carries a perfect 19-0-0 record and represents one of the most formidable challenges available at 170 pounds. Fighting out of DAR Team, Rakhmonov lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate while also threatening with 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Reigning welterweight champion Islam Makhachev holds a 28-1-0 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The 34-year-old Russian, fighting out of Eagles MMA, averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 58 percent striking accuracy and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a complete threat across all phases.
Why it matters
- Prates now holds three significant UFC historical records simultaneously, underlining his status as one of the division's most dangerous finishers
- A potential matchup between Prates and Makhachev would pit record-setting knockout power against the welterweight division's premier grappling-based champion
- Rakhmonov's undefeated record and top-three ranking mean any path through the welterweight elite must account for the Kazakh's own finishing ability
- Makhachev's performance against names like Prates and Rakhmonov could reshape the pound-for-pound and all-time GOAT discussions
