Several UFC fighters have provided detailed breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance in his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted Prates' unique knee strikes, noting how he generates power not from stepping but from springing upward, and how he transitions the knee motion into high kicks that wrap around the opponent's head. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how Prates' knee threats completely shut down his opponent's inside boxing and clinch work, comparing the performance to Mortal Kombat. Masvidal also noted Prates' length advantage for the division and his ability to stop wrestlers with knees, though he believes Islam Makhachev's wrestling would present a nightmare scenario. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both noted how Prates used knees and elbows to break through his opponent's defensive guard, with Poirier observing that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allows him to throw knees more aggressively.
A recent victory by Carlos Prates has sparked a wave of detailed analysis from fellow UFC fighters, with Cory Sandhagen, Jorge Masvidal, Dustin Poirier, and coach Dean Thomas all weighing in on the Brazilian's unconventional and destructive striking game.
Sandhagen drew attention to the mechanics behind Prates' knee strikes, explaining that his power comes not from stepping into the technique but from springing upward, and that he seamlessly converts that same motion into high kicks that wrap around an opponent's head. It is a fluid, deceptive combination that few fighters in any division currently employ.
Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who holds a 35-17 professional record, offered some of the most colorful commentary, comparing the performance to Mortal Kombat. The six-foot-one striker with a 74-inch reach noted that Prates' knee threats effectively neutralized his opponent's inside boxing and clinch entries entirely. Masvidal also credited Prates' length as a meaningful advantage at the division level and pointed to his ability to discourage takedown attempts through well-timed knees. He did, however, identify Islam Makhachev as a potential nightmare matchup, pointing to the champion's elite wrestling.
Makhachev, the reigning champion carrying a 28-1 record and the top pound-for-pound ranking, averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connects on 58 percent of his significant strikes, making him the division's most complete threat.
Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team veteran with a 30-10 record, zeroed in on a specific tactical element: Prates' apparent lack of fear of being taken down. That mindset, Poirier observed, frees him to throw knees more aggressively and with less hesitation than most fighters would dare. Both Poirier and Thomas also highlighted how Prates used knees and elbows in combination to break through a defensive guard, adding another layer to an already complex striking system.
Why it matters
- Prates is being identified by peers as a legitimate threat in his division, not just a highlight reel
- His knee-based game may specifically neutralize wrestler-heavy opponents who rely on inside fighting to close distance
- The Makhachev question raised by Masvidal signals that the wider fighter community is already projecting Prates toward title conversation
