Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strikes in his victory over Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' left knee was a game-changer, noting the unique spring-loaded power rather than traditional stepping motion, and how Prates mixed the knee threat with high kicks that wrapped around the head. Sandhagen also praised Prates' elbows for breaking through Della Maddalena's defensive block in a way he couldn't against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat alone disabled Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body work, calling it some of the best knee work he's seen in a long time. Dustin Poirier noted that Prates opened up Della Maddalena's guard with knees and elbows, and that throwing knees so freely showed Prates wasn't afraid of takedowns. Dean Thomas added that Prates' knees were nearly invisible as he mixed them seamlessly with his hand strikes.
Several prominent UFC fighters took to social media and commentary platforms to break down Carlos Prates' technical brilliance after his stoppage win over Jack Della Maddalena, offering a rare collective dissection of one fighter's striking craft.
Cory Sandhagen was among the most detailed in his analysis, zeroing in on Prates' left knee as the defining weapon of the fight. Sandhagen described the strike as spring-loaded rather than built on a traditional stepping motion, giving it an unusual and difficult-to-read power generation. He also noted how Prates threaded high kicks that wrapped around Della Maddalena's head in combination with the knee threat, and credited Prates' elbows for cracking through Della Maddalena's defensive guard in a way that even Petr Yan had failed to do.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran carrying a 35-17 record, emphasized the tactical damage the knee threat alone caused. In his view, the constant danger of the weapon neutralized Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body work entirely, calling it some of the best knee work he had witnessed in a long time.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team product who holds a 30-10 record and lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute in his own right, offered a complementary read. He noted that Prates used the knees and elbows together to open Della Maddalena's guard, and pointed out that throwing knees so freely signaled Prates had no fear of being taken down throughout the contest.
Veteran coach Dean Thomas rounded out the chorus of praise, observing that the knees were nearly invisible within Prates' combinations, blending seamlessly with his hand strikes in a way that made them almost impossible to anticipate.
Why it matters
- Prates' knee game has now drawn widespread recognition from elite fighters and coaches as a genuinely rare skill set at welterweight level
- The analysis highlights how the threat of the weapon, not just its execution, dismantled Della Maddalena's usually reliable close-range offense
- Fighter commentary of this depth suggests Prates' stylistic profile will force future opponents to prepare in ways the division has rarely encountered
