Carlos Prates has achieved historic knockout milestones in the UFC in record time. He became the fastest fighter in UFC history to record seven knockout victories, accomplishing the feat in just eight fights. The previous record holders were heavyweights Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, who reached seven knockouts in nine fights. Prates also set the record for fastest to 14 knockdowns, achieving it in just 17 incomplete rounds, the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. Only 62 of 2,710 fighters who have competed in the UFC over 33 years have reached seven knockouts, representing just 2.29% of the roster. Prates surpassed legends like Francis Ngannou, Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva, Alex Pereira, and Ilia Topuria. He also set the record for fastest to earn seven Performance of the Night bonuses, doing so in eight fights versus the typical 15. The post notes that Prates recently knocked out two former UFC champions who had never been knocked out before, and suggests he represents a potential historic scalp for Islam Makhachev.
Carlos Prates has etched his name into UFC record books, surpassing some of the sport's most celebrated finishers to claim a pair of historic milestones.
The Brazilian welterweight became the fastest fighter in UFC history to record seven knockout victories, reaching that mark in just eight fights. The previous record was held by two heavyweight legends — Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez — who each needed nine fights to hit the same total. Velasquez, now 43, finished his career with a 14-3-0 record and was renowned for his relentless pressure and a striking accuracy of 57 percent, making Prates' ability to surpass him all the more striking.
Prates simultaneously set the record for reaching 14 knockdowns, doing so across just 17 incomplete rounds — the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes in UFC history. He also claimed the record for the fastest fighter to earn seven Performance of the Night bonuses, collecting all seven within eight appearances compared to the typical 15 fights it takes most fighters to reach that number.
To place the achievement in broader context, only 62 of the 2,710 fighters who have competed in the UFC across its 33-year history have ever reached seven knockouts — just 2.29 percent of the entire roster. Prates surpassed that threshold ahead of names including Francis Ngannou, Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva, Alex Pereira, and Ilia Topuria. Silva, a 51-year-old Brazilian southpaw who finished his career 34-11-0 with a striking accuracy of 61 percent, long stood as one of the UFC's gold standards for finishing ability.
Why it matters
- Prates has knocked out two former UFC champions who had never previously been finished, underlining the elite level of his recent opposition.
- His knockdown rate per 15 minutes is unmatched in UFC history, making him a unique finishing threat.
- Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion at 28-1-0 and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, would represent the sport's ultimate test for Prates' historic finishing pace.
