Carlos Prates has knocked out three fighters who had never been knocked out before in their careers. Leon Edwards had never lost by knockout in 28 fights before facing Prates. Li Jingliang had never been knocked out in 27 fights before meeting Prates. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out on the feet before fighting Prates, with his only TKO loss coming via ground and pound when he was exhausted. This achievement highlights Prates's exceptional finishing ability against durable opposition.
Carlos Prates has carved out a remarkable place in UFC history, becoming the first fighter to knock out three opponents who had never previously been stopped by strikes in their professional careers.
The Brazilian welterweight, known as "The Nightmare," holds a 24-7 record and is currently ranked fifth in the division. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, the 32-year-old Vale Top Team product has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the game, connecting on 55 percent of his significant strikes.
His three victims each brought ironclad durability into their bouts with Prates. Leon Edwards had gone 28 professional fights without ever being knocked out before falling to the Brazilian. Li Jingliang, the orthodox striker known as "The Leech," carried a 19-9 record and had survived 27 fights without a knockout loss before meeting Prates. Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, had never been stopped on the feet in his career — his only prior TKO defeat came via ground and pound when he was exhausted, not from clean striking. Della Maddalena owns an aggressive style of his own, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- All three opponents had demonstrated elite durability across a combined 83 professional fights before facing Prates
- The achievement underscores Prates's ability to finish not just worn-down opposition but durable, high-level competitors
- With Prates sitting fifth and Della Maddalena fourth in the welterweight rankings, the victory pushes "The Nightmare" firmly into title contention conversations
