Carlos Prates has achieved unprecedented knockout victories over three fighters who had never been stopped before. Leon Edwards had never been knocked out in 28 professional fights before facing Prates. Li Jinliang had gone 27 fights without a knockout loss until meeting Prates. Jack Della Maddalena's only prior stoppage loss came via ground-and-pound when fatigued, never having been knocked out on the feet before Prates. This achievement highlights Prates' exceptional finishing ability and power. The post emphasizes the historical significance of breaking through the defensive records of multiple elite welterweights.
Carlos Prates has carved out a remarkable place in welterweight history, becoming the only fighter to score knockout victories over Leon Edwards, Li Jinliang, and Jack Della Maddalena — three elite competitors who had each entered their respective bouts with spotless records against being stopped by strikes.
Edwards, the former UFC welterweight champion known as "Rocky," had navigated 28 professional fights without ever being knocked out before Prates ended that streak. The 34-year-old Englishman from Team Renegade sits at number nine in the welterweight rankings and carries a 22-6 record, with a well-rounded game built on a 54 percent striking accuracy and a consistent takedown threat at 1.18 per 15 minutes. Li Jinliang similarly reached 27 professional bouts without a knockout loss before running into Prates.
Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth in the division at 18-4, had suffered only one prior stoppage and had never been knocked out clean on the feet. A dangerous switch-stance striker himself, he lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, making Prates' finish all the more striking.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," is a 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team who holds a 24-7 record and currently sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he converts at 55 percent striking accuracy and has demonstrated an elite ability to find the finish against opponents whose chins had previously held firm against the division's best.
Why it matters
- Prates has cracked the defenses of three men no other fighter had been able to knock out, underscoring rare power and precision
- With rankings of fourth and ninth among his victims, his finishing run carries serious divisional weight
- His position at number five, combined with this unprecedented streak, firmly establishes him as a title contender in a loaded welterweight division
