Carlos Prates has achieved the fastest accumulation of seven knockout victories in UFC history, reaching this milestone in just eight fights. The previous record holders were heavyweights Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, who needed nine fights. Only 62 fighters out of 2,710 who have competed in the UFC's 33-year history have achieved seven knockouts, representing just 2.29% of all fighters. Prates also holds the record for fastest to 14 knockdowns, accomplishing this in just 17 incomplete rounds, giving him 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 in UFC history, requiring only eight fights compared to the average of 15 fights. The post notes that Prates has finished two former UFC champions who had never been knocked out before, and suggests he represents a potential historic challenge for Islam Makhachev.
Carlos Prates has etched his name into UFC record books, becoming the fastest fighter in the promotion's 33-year history to accumulate seven knockout victories, reaching that milestone in just eight fights.
The Brazilian knockout artist's achievement surpasses a benchmark previously shared by two legendary heavyweights. Junior dos Santos — the six-foot-four, 193-centimeter Brazilian known as "Cigano," who carries a career record of 21-9 — and Cain Velasquez, the six-foot-one American wrestler out of American Kickboxing Academy with a 14-3 mark, had each needed nine fights to reach seven knockouts. Prates needed one fewer.
The scale of the feat becomes clearer in context: only 62 of the 2,710 fighters who have competed in the UFC have ever reached seven knockouts at all, representing just 2.29 percent of the entire roster across the promotion's history.
Prates also holds the record for the fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns, achieving that total across just 17 incomplete rounds, giving him the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. His finishing ability has also translated directly into bonus territory — he collected seven Performance of the Night awards in just eight appearances, a pace that obliterates the previous average of 15 fights to reach that same number.
Among his victims are two former UFC champions, both of whom had never been knocked out prior to facing Prates.
Why it matters
- Prates has established himself as statistically the most prolific finisher in UFC history on a per-fight basis
- His record places him among an elite group representing just 2.29 percent of all fighters to compete in the UFC
- His knockout power and knockdown rate make him a credible threat to any fighter in his division, including pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion who carries a 28-1 record and is regarded as the best fighter on the planet
