Carlos Prates has achieved the fastest accumulation of seven knockout victories in UFC history, accomplishing the feat in just eight fights. The previous record holders were Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez, both heavyweights who needed nine fights. Only 62 fighters out of 2,710 in UFC's 33-year history have accumulated seven knockouts, representing just 2.29% of all roster members. Prates has also recorded the fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns in UFC history, doing so in under 17 total rounds, giving him the highest knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time. Additionally, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than anyone in history, needing only eight fights compared to the average of 15. His recent victories include knockout wins over two former UFC champions who had never been knocked out before.
Carlos Prates has cemented his place in UFC history, setting multiple all-time records across his eight-fight run in the promotion as of May 2026.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," has become the fastest fighter in UFC history to accumulate seven knockout victories, reaching that milestone in just eight appearances. The previous record was held jointly by two heavyweight legends, Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez, who each needed nine fights to reach the same mark. The achievement is all the more remarkable given that only 62 fighters out of 2,710 across the UFC's 33-year history — roughly 2.29 percent of all roster members — have ever recorded seven knockouts in the organization.
The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team also holds the record for the fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns in UFC history, doing so in under 17 total rounds. That translates to the highest knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in company history. Additionally, Prates earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than any fighter ever has, needing just eight fights compared to the historical average of 15.
Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, Prates competes at welterweight and currently sits fifth in the divisional rankings with a professional record of 24-7. His recent run has included knockout victories over two former UFC champions, both of whom had never previously been stopped by strikes.
Why it matters
- Prates has surpassed two all-time heavyweights, Cormier and Velasquez, in a record previously thought to belong to the biggest men in the sport
- His position at fifth in the welterweight rankings, combined with these historic finishing credentials, puts significant pressure on the division's elite
- The knockdown rate record underscores a finishing ability that is statistically unmatched across any era of the UFC
