Carlos Prates has achieved unprecedented knockout victories over three fighters who had never been stopped before. Leon Edwards had never lost by knockout in 28 fights before facing Prates. Li Jingliang had never been knocked out in 27 fights prior to their bout. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out on the feet before meeting Prates, with his only previous TKO loss coming when he was finished on the ground while exhausted. This statistical anomaly highlights Prates' exceptional finishing ability, as he has become the first fighter to knockout three previously unfinished opponents in succession.
Carlos Prates has etched his name into the record books by becoming the first fighter in UFC history to knock out three opponents who had never previously been stopped, a remarkable run that underscores his status as one of the most dangerous finishers in the welterweight division.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and currently sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and converts at a 55 percent striking accuracy rate — an efficiency that has proven devastating for opponents who believed they were knockout-proof. He fights out of a switch stance, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to his offense.
Leon Edwards had gone 28 fights without being stopped before Prates ended that streak. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old Chinese veteran nicknamed "The Leech," had made it through 27 bouts unfinished before suffering the same fate. Li averaged 4.46 significant strikes landed per minute across his career, suggesting he was no stranger to warfare. Jack Della Maddalena, Australia's fourth-ranked welterweight and the number 13 pound-for-pound fighter in the world at just 29 years old, had never been knocked out on the feet before meeting Prates. His only prior TKO loss came via ground stoppage while exhausted — a very different circumstance. The 18-4 Scrappy MMA product lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, making his inability to deter Prates all the more striking.
Why it matters
- Prates has now beaten three fighters with unblemished knockout records back to back, a sequence with no known precedent in the sport
- At ranked fifth in welterweight, his finishing streak makes him an unavoidable contender conversation at 170 pounds
- His 78-inch reach and switch-stance power create a stylistic problem that elite welterweights across the division have yet to solve
