Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance against Jack Della Maddalena, particularly his knee strikes. Cory Sandhagen noted that Prates' left knee changed the fight with unique spring-loaded power rather than typical step-in technique, and he seamlessly transitioned between knees and high kicks. Jorge Masvidal highlighted how the knee threat completely shut down Della Maddalena's ability to work the body or box in the clinch, calling it "Mortal Kombat level" striking. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates mixed his knees effectively with hand strikes and showed no fear of takedowns. Dean Thomas and Masvidal both noted that Prates' length and versatile striking, including elbows that broke through Della Maddalena's guard, made him a nightmare matchup, though Masvidal cautioned that Islam Makhachev's wrestling would present major challenges.
Several prominent UFC fighters took to social media and commentary platforms to dissect Carlos Prates' striking clinic against Jack Della Maddalena, with particular attention paid to Prates' destructive knee strikes and what they could mean for his future at welterweight.
Cory Sandhagen offered one of the more technical observations, pointing out that Prates' left knee generated its power through an unusual spring-loaded motion rather than the conventional step-in approach. Sandhagen also noted how fluidly Prates transitioned between knee strikes and high kicks, making each threat feed off the other.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran carrying a 35-17 record, went further in his assessment. The six-foot-one striker described the knee threat as "Mortal Kombat level," explaining that it completely neutralized Della Maddalena's ability to work the body or engage in clinch boxing. Masvidal also pointed to Prates' length and the elbows that sliced through Della Maddalena's guard as factors that made him a nightmare stylistic matchup.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old southpaw from the United States with a 30-10 record, added that Prates blended his knees effectively with hand combinations and showed no hesitation about the possibility of being taken down, a quality that gave his striking even more credibility.
Why it matters
- Prates' striking performance has drawn widespread attention from respected veterans across multiple weight classes, raising his profile significantly in the welterweight division.
- Masvidal cautioned that welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and holds a 28-1 record, would present a very different challenge given his elite wrestling.
- The stylistic breakdown suggests Prates' length and knee-strike versatility could be a problem for opponents who rely on clinch work or body attacks.
- Sandhagen's technical breakdown of the knee mechanics points to a fighter whose striking may be more sophisticated than initially recognized.
