Carlos Prates has achieved the fastest seven knockout victories in UFC history, accomplishing this in just eight fights. The closest competitors, Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, both heavyweights, needed nine fights. Out of 2,710 fighters who have competed in UFC over 33 years, only 62 (2.29%) have achieved seven knockouts total. Prates also holds the record for fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns in just 17 incomplete rounds, representing the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. Additionally, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than anyone, requiring only eight fights compared to the average of 15 fights for other fighters. The post notes that Prates defeated two former UFC champions by knockout, both of whom had never been knocked out before, with one finish coming via leg kicks. The author suggests that if Islam Makhachev defeats Ian Garry and Prates (plus potentially Shavkat Rakhmonov), he could match or surpass Jon Jones's legacy.
Carlos Prates has etched his name into the UFC record books by becoming the fastest fighter in the promotion's history to record seven knockout victories, achieving the milestone in just eight fights.
The Brazilian welterweight reached that mark faster than any of the 2,710 fighters who have competed in the UFC across its 33-year existence. Only 62 fighters — roughly 2.29 percent of all UFC competitors — have recorded seven knockouts in total. The previous benchmarks were set by former heavyweight champions Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, both of whom needed nine fights to reach the same total. Velasquez, now 43, finished his career 14-3 and was among the most active strikers of his era, averaging 6.37 significant strikes per minute.
Prates's destruction does not stop at the finish count. He also holds the UFC record for the fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns, doing so across just 17 incomplete rounds. That translates to the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in promotion history. He has further claimed seven Performance of the Night bonuses in those same eight appearances — a pace that reportedly dwarfs the average of 15 fights other bonus recipients required. Among his victims are two former UFC champions, each stopped for the first time in their careers, with one finish coming via leg kicks.
Why it matters
- Prates's knockout pace puts him in historically rare company at welterweight, a division that rarely produces finishers at this volume.
- He has already defeated two former champions who had previously been considered knockout-proof, underlining the legitimacy of his finishing power.
- The records surface as Islam Makhachev, the reigning champion listed at 28-1, is linked to a path that could include Prates and unbeaten contender Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0, ranked third at welterweight). Should Makhachev navigate that gauntlet, the discussion around his place among the sport's all-time greats would intensify considerably.
