Carlos Prates has achieved a rare feat by becoming the first fighter to knock out three previously un-knocked-out opponents. 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 encounter. Jack Della Maddalena had never lost by knockout while standing before Prates, with his only TKO loss coming via ground strikes when fatigued. This achievement highlights Prates' exceptional finishing ability and the unprecedented nature of his recent performances against elite welterweight competition.
Carlos Prates has carved out a place in UFC history by becoming the first fighter ever to knock out three opponents who had each previously never been stopped by strikes while standing — a distinction that underscores just how dangerous the Brazilian welterweight has become.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and currently 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 connects at a 55 percent striking accuracy rate — a figure that helps explain why his finishes have come against opponents who had, until meeting him, seemed nearly impossible to put away cleanly.
Leon Edwards, a former welterweight champion, had gone 28 professional fights without ever being knocked out before Prates ended that streak. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old Chinese veteran nicknamed "The Leech," had similarly survived 27 bouts without a knockout loss, landing 4.46 significant strikes per minute throughout his career and showing considerable durability across more than a decade of elite competition. Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth in the division and 13th pound-for-pound, had never been stopped by standing strikes in his professional career. His only previous TKO defeat had come via ground strikes while fatigued — a vastly different set of circumstances.
Why it matters
- Prates has now defeated three welterweights who each entered their bouts with zero knockout losses on their record
- The feat places Prates firmly in the title conversation at 170 pounds, where he ranks fifth
- His 55 percent striking accuracy and a 78-inch reach give him physical and technical advantages that elite-level opponents have struggled to solve
- Della Maddalena, Edwards, and Li collectively represented some of the most durable fighters the division has produced, making the achievement historically significant
