Carlos Prates has achieved multiple UFC records in remarkably quick fashion. He reached seven knockout victories faster than anyone in UFC history, accomplishing this in just eight fights—faster than heavyweights like Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez who did it in nine. He also recorded 14 knockdowns in just 17 incomplete rounds, giving him the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. Additionally, Prates earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than any fighter ever, needing only eight fights compared to the average of 15. The post notes that only 2.29% of UFC fighters (62 out of 2,710) have ever reached seven knockouts in the promotion. Prates has finished two former UFC champions who had never been knocked out before, including knocking one down with leg kicks.
Carlos Prates has cemented himself as one of the most prolific finishers in UFC history, setting multiple promotional records across knockout victories, knockdowns, and post-fight bonuses.
The Brazilian welterweight, known as "The Nightmare," reached seven knockout victories in just eight UFC fights, surpassing the previous benchmark set by heavyweights such as Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez, who each needed nine fights to reach that total. According to UFC data, only 62 of 2,710 fighters — roughly 2.29 percent — have ever recorded seven knockouts inside the promotion, placing Prates in extremely rare company.
His destructive output extends beyond finishes. Prates has recorded 14 knockdowns across just 17 incomplete rounds of action, giving him the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. He has also collected seven Performance of the Night bonuses in those same eight appearances, reaching that milestone faster than any fighter on record. The average UFC fighter requires 15 fights to earn seven bonuses.
Among his victims are two former UFC champions who had never previously been knocked out, with Prates dropping one of them using leg kicks alone — a testament to the variety within his striking arsenal.
Ranked fifth in the welterweight division at 32 years old, Prates carries a professional record of 24-7. He stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and fights out of a switch stance for Vale Top Team. His UFC numbers reflect a fighter who lands with both volume and precision, averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 55 percent.
Why it matters
- Prates has built a historically efficient finishing résumé faster than any fighter in UFC history regardless of weight class
- His ranking at number five in welterweight signals he is approaching title contention territory
- The ability to finish former champions who had never been stopped raises his profile considerably heading into any future high-stakes matchup
