Carlos Prates has achieved the fastest accumulation of seven knockout victories in UFC history, accomplishing this in just eight fights. This surpasses previous record holders Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, who both needed nine fights. Only 2.29% of UFC roster fighters have ever reached seven knockouts. Prates also holds records for the fastest 14 knockdowns (17 incomplete rounds) and highest knockdown rate per 15 minutes. He earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses in eight fights, nearly twice as fast as the average. Prates recently knocked out two former UFC champions, including finishing Leon Edwards with leg kicks, marking one of the most explosive eight-fight runs in UFC history.
Carlos Prates has etched his name into UFC history, setting the record for the fastest accumulation of seven knockout victories in the promotion's history — achieving the feat in just eight fights.
The milestone surpasses the previous benchmark shared by two former UFC heavyweight champions, Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, both of whom required nine fights to reach seven knockouts. Velasquez, a 14-3 veteran who competed at heavyweight for American Kickboxing Academy, was among the most decorated fighters of his era. That Prates has eclipsed both legends in fewer appearances underscores just how historically unusual his finishing rate has been.
The records do not stop there. Prates also holds the UFC marks for the fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns — accomplished across just 17 incomplete rounds — and the highest knockdown rate per 15 minutes on the active roster. His finishing prowess has translated directly into bonus pay: seven Performance of the Night awards in eight outings, a pace nearly twice as fast as the historical average for UFC fighters.
Among the highlights of his run was a finish of former welterweight champion Leon Edwards, ending the fight with leg kicks in one of the more striking stoppages in recent divisional memory. The win over Edwards was one of two former UFC champions Prates has knocked out during this stretch.
Why it matters
- Only 2.29 percent of all fighters ever to appear on a UFC roster have recorded seven knockouts, making Prates an extreme outlier in finishing ability.
- His record-setting pace places him ahead of all-time heavyweights in a metric where size typically provides a significant advantage.
- Back-to-back finishes of former champions signals that Prates is no longer simply accumulating records against lower-tier opposition, raising the stakes for any welterweight contender matchup ahead.
