Multiple UFC fighters offered detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance in his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted Prates' unique knee technique, noting he generates power by springing upward rather than stepping, and praised how Prates used the knee threat to transition into high kicks that wrapped around the head. Jorge Masvidal called it some of the best knee work he's seen in a long time, comparing Prates' performance to Mortal Kombat and noting how the knee threat prevented DDM from working the body or boxing in the clinch. Dustin Poirier emphasized that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allowed him to throw knees more aggressively. Dean Thomas noted how well Prates mixed his knees with hand strikes, making them difficult to see. The fighters universally praised the performance as elite-level striking.
Several prominent UFC fighters took to social media to dissect Carlos Prates' striking masterclass following his recent victory over DDM, with the consensus among veterans and coaches pointing to an elite-level performance built around the threat and execution of the knee strike.
Cory Sandhagen offered one of the more detailed technical observations, noting that Prates generates his knee power by springing upward rather than stepping into the strike — an unconventional mechanic that makes the technique harder to read and defend. Sandhagen also highlighted how Prates used the constant knee threat to set up high kicks that curled around the opponent's head.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran holding a 35-17 record, compared the performance to Mortal Kombat and called it some of the best knee work he has seen in a long time. Masvidal, himself a career-long student of striking with 4.05 significant strikes landed per minute across his career, specifically pointed out how DDM was neutralized in the clinch, unable to work the body or exchange on the outside because the knee threat took those options away.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old southpaw out of American Top Team who carries a 30-10 record and lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute, added an important contextual note: Prates' willingness to absorb takedown attempts — or more precisely, his lack of fear of them — gave him the freedom to throw knees more aggressively and with less hesitation than most fighters would allow themselves.
Striking coach Dean Thomas rounded out the breakdown by emphasizing how cleanly Prates mixed his knee strikes with hand combinations, reducing their visibility and making them nearly impossible to anticipate.
Why it matters
- Prates is emerging as a legitimate striking threat in his division, drawing praise from fighters with deep combat sports pedigrees
- The knee-as-setup tool is a relatively rare weapon at elite MMA level, and multiple veterans flagged it as a differentiating skill
- The performance has raised Prates' profile among peers, which often precedes movement in divisional rankings and matchmaking conversations
