Carlos Prates has achieved a unique distinction by becoming the first fighter to knock out three previously undefeated-by-knockout opponents. Leon Edwards had never been knocked out 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; his only prior TKO loss came from ground-and-pound after he was exhausted. The post highlights the historical significance of Prates finishing fighters who had proven exceptionally durable throughout their careers.
Carlos Prates has carved out a singular place in UFC welterweight history, becoming the first fighter ever to finish by knockout three opponents who had each never previously been stopped on the feet.
The Brazilian known as "The Nightmare" now holds a 24-7 record and sits ranked fifth in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and converts 55 percent of his significant strikes — a finishing rate that has proven devastating for even the most durable opponents he has faced.
Leon Edwards had gone 28 professional fights without being knocked out before running into Prates. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old Chinese veteran nicknamed "The Leech," carried a 27-fight knockout-free record into their meeting and landed 4.46 significant strikes per minute throughout his career, suggesting he was far from a passive target. Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, had never been stopped by strikes on the feet across his career — his only prior TKO loss came from ground-and-pound after exhaustion, an entirely different circumstance. Della Maddalena lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute and connects at 51 percent accuracy, making him one of the division's most active and resilient fighters.
Why it matters
- Prates has now proven he can stop elite-level welterweights with verified knockout durability, not just lesser opposition
- His path through Edwards, Li, and Della Maddalena represents three fighters with a combined near-zero knockout-on-the-feet loss record prior to facing him
- At 32 and ranked fifth, Prates has positioned himself as a legitimate title contender in a welterweight division still sorting out its hierarchy
- The achievement underscores how his 78-inch reach and 55 percent striking accuracy create problems that experienced fighters at 170 pounds have found no answer for
