Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance against Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' powerful spring-loaded knee technique changed the fight, noting the unique way he converted knee threats into high kicks by wrapping over JDM's head. He also praised Prates' use of elbows to break through JDM's defensive block, comparing it favorably to his own experience against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat alone shut down JDM's close-range boxing and body work, calling it some of the best knee work he has seen in years. Dustin Poirier noted that Prates' willingness to throw knees without fearing takedowns demonstrated his confidence. Both Masvidal and analysts suggested that while Prates' knees could pose problems for Islam Makhachev, the champion's wrestling remains a significant threat.
Several UFC veterans have weighed in with detailed technical analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance in his recent fight against Jack Della Maddalena, offering pointed breakdowns of how the Brazilian striker dismantled one of the division's most dangerous boxers.
Cory Sandhagen was among the most specific in his assessment, describing Prates' knees as spring-loaded and highlighting a particularly unusual technique: the ability to convert a knee threat into a high kick by wrapping over JDM's head. Sandhagen also credited Prates' elbow work for breaking through Della Maddalena's defensive shell, drawing on his own experience facing Petr Yan's guard to illustrate just how difficult that problem is to solve.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran holding a 35-17 record and one of combat sports' more credentialed street-fighting backgrounds, called it some of the best knee work he had seen in years. Masvidal stressed that the threat of the knee alone was enough to shut down Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body attack, a significant observation given how effective JDM's inside work had been against previous opponents.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team southpaw with a 30-10 record and over five significant strikes landed per minute across his career, pointed to Prates' mental confidence as a key factor, noting that his willingness to throw knees without concern for takedown counters signals a fighter operating with high conviction in his own game.
Why it matters
- Prates' knee threat functionally neutralized one of the welterweight division's elite boxer's close-range attack, suggesting a repeatable stylistic blueprint
- Both Masvidal and other analysts flagged the knees as a potential problem for Islam Makhachev, the undefeated welterweight champion with a 28-1 record who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes
- Makhachev's elite wrestling and grappling output remain the obvious counter to any striker looking to test him on the feet
