Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance, particularly focusing on his knees and elbows. Cory Sandhagen highlighted Prates' unique spring-loaded knee technique that generated exceptional power without traditional stepping, and noted how Prates cleverly transitioned the knee threat into high kicks by wrapping around opponents' heads. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how Prates' knee threats completely shut down his opponent's clinch boxing and body work, comparing the performance to "Mortal Kombat" level striking. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates showed no fear of takedowns, which allowed him to throw knees more confidently and break through defensive blocks with both knees and elbows. Dean Thomas noted how seamlessly Prates mixed his knees with his hand strikes, making them difficult to see and defend.
