Carlos Prates has achieved unprecedented milestones in the UFC, setting multiple records during his first eight fights with the promotion. He reached seven knockout victories faster than any fighter in UFC history, accomplishing this in just 8 fights compared to the previous record holders Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez, who needed 9 fights. Prates also recorded 14 knockdowns in just 17 incomplete rounds, achieving the highest knockdown rate per 15 minutes in UFC history. Additionally, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than anyone, requiring only 8 fights compared to the typical average of 15 fights. The analyst considers this one of the top three most impressive 8-fight stretches in UFC history, noting that Prates knocked out two former UFC champions who had never been knocked out before. The post suggests that defeating Prates, along with Ian Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov, would elevate Islam Makhachev to the level of Jon Jones in the all-time great conversation.
Carlos Prates has carved out a place in UFC history after just eight promotional appearances, setting a series of records that analysts are calling one of the most dominant early runs the organization has ever seen.
The Brazilian welterweight reached seven knockout victories in only eight UFC fights, surpassing the previous benchmark set jointly by former heavyweight champions Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez, both of whom needed nine fights to reach that same mark. Velasquez, who compiled a 14-3 professional record and averaged an eye-catching 6.37 significant strikes landed per minute during his career, was considered one of the sport's most ferocious finishers. Prates has now eclipsed that particular milestone at an even faster pace.
Beyond the knockout tally, Prates accumulated 14 knockdowns across just 17 incomplete rounds, giving him the highest knockdown rate per 15 minutes in UFC history. He also collected seven Performance of the Night bonuses in those same eight outings, a feat that typically takes fighters an average of 15 fights to achieve.
Why it matters
- Prates knocked out two former UFC champions who had never previously been stopped, underscoring the quality of his finish streak
- His knockdown rate per 15 minutes is the highest ever recorded in the UFC, reflecting an unusually high finishing threat
- One analyst has placed this eight-fight stretch among the top three in UFC history and suggested that defeating Prates, Ian Garry, and Shavkat Rakhmonov would elevate Islam Makhachev into the Jon Jones tier of all-time greats
- Rakhmonov, currently ranked third in the welterweight division at 31 years old with an unbeaten 19-0 record and a striking accuracy of 60 percent, represents the kind of elite opposition that could further define Prates's legacy if a matchup materializes
