Carlos Prates has set multiple UFC records through his first eight fights in the organization. He became the fastest fighter to reach seven knockout victories in UFC history, achieving this in just eight bouts and surpassing heavyweights like Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez who needed nine fights. Prates also holds the record for fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns in UFC history, accomplishing this in only 17 incomplete rounds, and the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time. Additionally, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than any fighter in history, needing only eight fights compared to the average of 15. The analysis emphasizes that only 2.29% of all UFC roster fighters have ever achieved seven knockouts. The post positions Prates as delivering one of the most explosive eight-fight runs in UFC history and suggests he represents a major challenge for Islam Makhachev.
Carlos Prates has carved out a place in UFC history through just eight fights in the organization, setting several records that underline one of the most destructive debut runs the promotion has ever seen.
The Brazilian knockout artist reached seven UFC knockouts faster than any fighter in history, getting there in eight bouts. That benchmark surpasses what legendary heavyweights Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez needed to accomplish the same feat. Dos Santos, the 42-year-old Brazilian who compiled a 21-9 professional record and long ranked among the division's elite, required nine fights to hit that mark. So did Velasquez, the 43-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product who went 14-3 and was one of the most dominant heavyweight champions of his era, averaging an extraordinary 5.13 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside his striking output.
Prates also owns the UFC record for accumulating 14 knockdowns the fastest, doing so across only 17 incomplete rounds, and he holds the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes in promotional history. On top of that, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses in just eight appearances — a pace that blows past the historical average of 15 fights to reach the same total. Only 2.29 percent of all fighters who have ever appeared on a UFC roster have managed seven knockouts, making the company Prates keeps an exceptionally thin group.
Why it matters
- Prates has produced one of the most statistically explosive eight-fight runs in UFC history, built entirely on finishing power
- The records span both volume and rate, meaning the damage is consistent rather than the product of a few long fights
- His name is now being raised in connection with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who carries a 28-1 record and holds the pound-for-pound top ranking, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts — a grappling-heavy style that would present a sharply contrasting test for Prates
