Carlos Prates has achieved the fastest accumulation of seven knockout victories in UFC history, reaching the milestone in just eight fights. The only fighters close to this pace were Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, both heavyweights who needed nine fights. Out of 2,710 fighters in UFC's 33-year history, only 62 (2.29%) have ever recorded seven knockouts. Prates also holds the record for fastest to 14 knockdowns and the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time, accomplishing this in just 17 incomplete rounds. He became the fastest fighter to earn seven Performance of the Night bonuses, requiring only eight fights compared to the average of 15. The post characterizes Prates' eight-fight run as one of the top three most dominant stretches in UFC history, noting he finished two former UFC champions who had never been knocked out before. The analysis suggests that if Islam Makhachev defeats Ian Garry, Prates, and Shavkat Rakhmonov, he would equal or surpass Jon Jones' legacy.
Carlos Prates has etched his name into the UFC record books, establishing himself as the fastest fighter in the promotion's 33-year history to accumulate seven knockout victories, reaching that milestone in just eight fights.
The Brazilian welterweight's pace is historically unmatched. For context, the next closest fighters to that benchmark were former heavyweight champions Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, each of whom required nine fights to reach seven knockouts — and both competed in the heaviest division on the roster. Velasquez, now 43, finished his UFC career with a 14-3-0 record and was known for his smothering pressure and elite wrestling, averaging over five takedowns per 15 minutes. That Prates eclipsed that kind of company at welterweight underscores just how extraordinary his finishing pace has been.
Prates' record-setting run extends well beyond a single category. He also holds the UFC record for the fastest accumulation of 14 knockdowns and posts the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in promotional history — a figure made even more striking by the fact that he achieved it across only 17 incomplete rounds. He became the fastest fighter to earn seven Performance of the Night bonuses, doing so in eight appearances against an average of 15 fights for other recipients. Among 2,710 fighters across UFC history, only 62 — just 2.29 percent — have ever recorded seven knockouts total.
Why it matters
- Prates' eight-fight run is being characterized as one of the three most dominant stretches in UFC history
- He finished two former UFC champions who had never previously been knocked out, raising the quality of his résumé significantly
- The analysis notes that if Islam Makhachev were to defeat Ian Garry, Prates, and Shavkat Rakhmonov — the unbeaten Kazakh contender ranked third at welterweight with a 19-0-0 record — it would place Makhachev's legacy in conversation with Jon Jones, who carries a 28-1-0 record and a reach of 84 inches
- Prates' statistical dominance reframes what finishing ability looks like in the 170-pound division
