UFC fighters break down Prates' devastating knee strikes against Della Maddalena

Multiple UFC fighters and analysts have praised Carlos Prates' technical execution of knee strikes in his victory over Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen highlighted the unique mechanics of Prates' left knee, noting he generates power by springing upward rather than stepping, and seamlessly transitions the knee motion into high kicks that wrap around the head. Jorge Masvidal compared Prates' performance to Mortal Kombat, emphasizing how the knee threat shut down Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body work. Dustin Poirier noted that Prates used knees and elbows to break through Della Maddalena's defensive shell, displaying confidence that he wasn't afraid of takedowns. Dean Thomas observed how well Prates mixed his knee strikes with hand combinations, making them difficult to see coming.