Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strikes in his victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' left knee changed the fight with explosive power generated from a full-body spring motion rather than just stepping, and how he mixed knees with high kicks that wrapped around DDM's head. Jorge Masvidal noted that Prates' knee threat coverage was exceptional, preventing DDM from working the body or boxing in the clinch, comparing the performance to Mortal Kombat. Masvidal suggested that while Prates could threaten Makhachev with knees on level changes, Makhachev's wrestling superiority could be a nightmare for Prates. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both emphasized how Prates used knees and elbows to break through DDM's defensive block.
Carlos Prates' knee strikes against Diego Lopes — known as DDM — drew widespread admiration from the UFC roster this week, with several high-profile fighters breaking down exactly what made the performance so technically impressive.
Cory Sandhagen was among those offering the most detailed breakdown, explaining that Prates' left knee derived its explosive power from a full-body spring motion rather than a simple step forward. Sandhagen also pointed to how Prates blended those knees with high kicks that wrapped around DDM's head, creating a layered threat that was exceptionally difficult to read and defend.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who carries a 35-17 professional record, compared the display to Mortal Kombat in terms of its controlled destruction. Masvidal noted that Prates' knee coverage was so thorough that DDM could neither work the body nor engage in conventional clinch boxing. Masvidal did raise an interesting structural question, suggesting that while Prates' knee threat could trouble Islam Makhachev on level changes, the lightweight champion's wrestling ability could present serious complications for Prates in return.
Makhachev, the reigning champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world at 34 years old, averages 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes and holds a 28-1 record — numbers that underline why Masvidal framed any potential matchup the way he did.
Dustin Poirier and coach Dean Thomas both focused on a specific technical detail: how Prates used knees and elbows together to break through DDM's defensive block, essentially dismantling a guard that might have frustrated a less inventive fighter.
Why it matters
- Prates' knee game has drawn direct comparisons to elite-level Muay Thai, elevating his profile in the lightweight division
- Masvidal's commentary planted the seed of a Prates-Makhachev discussion, even while acknowledging the champion's wrestling advantages
- The cross-fighter attention signals that Prates is now being studied as a genuine stylistic problem for anyone at 155 pounds
