Carlos Prates has knocked out three fighters who had never been stopped by knockout before facing him. Leon Edwards had never lost by knockout in 28 fights prior to Prates. Li Jingliang had avoided knockout losses in 27 bouts. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out in standup, with his only TKO loss coming via ground-and-pound when fatigued. Prates' ability to finish previously unfinished opponents highlights his exceptional knockout power and precision. These achievements underscore his rapid rise and finishing ability across multiple opponents.
Carlos Prates has carved out a unique place in UFC welterweight history by becoming the first fighter to knock out three opponents who had each entered their respective bouts never having been stopped by strikes alone.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and is currently ranked fifth in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — a significant physical advantage in the 170-pound class. He connects on 55 percent of his significant strikes, a level of accuracy that helps explain why his stoppages have come against opponents widely considered difficult to finish.
Leon Edwards had gone 28 fights without a knockout loss before running into Prates. The former champion's chin was considered one of the more reliable in the division. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old Chinese veteran known as "The Leech," had similarly avoided knockout defeats across 27 professional bouts. Standing six feet tall, Jingliang averaged 4.46 significant strikes landed per minute and carried genuine offensive danger of his own. Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, brought a 18-4 record and a reputation built largely on his own finishing ability. His only prior TKO loss had come via ground-and-pound while fatigued — he had never been stopped on the feet.
Why it matters
- Prates has now demonstrated knockout power against three different fighters with previously clean knockout-loss records, spanning levels of the divisional hierarchy
- His 78-inch reach and 55 percent striking accuracy give him structural advantages that compound his finishing ability
- With rankings at fifth in the welterweight division, these results position him as a legitimate title conversation participant
- The streak raises questions about whether any welterweight can absorb his precision striking consistently
