Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strike technique following his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' left knee changed the fight, noting the unique spring-loaded power generation and seamless transitions to high kicks. Sandhagen also praised Prates' elbow strikes that broke through Della Maddalena's defensive block. Jorge Masvidal called it some of the best knee work he's seen in a long time, comparing the performance to Mortal Kombat and noting how the knee threat completely shut down Della Maddalena's clinch boxing. Both Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas commented on how effectively Prates mixed his knees with hand strikes, making them difficult to see coming.
Carlos Prates' knee strikes against Ian Della Maddalena drew widespread praise from fellow UFC fighters in the days following his victory, with several veterans breaking down exactly what made the Brazilian's technique so effective.
Cory Sandhagen was among the most detailed in his assessment, singling out Prates' left knee as the weapon that shifted the contest. Sandhagen noted the unusual spring-loaded power generation behind the strike and how Prates transitioned seamlessly from knees to high kicks, keeping his opponent guessing. He also highlighted Prates' elbows, which reportedly cut through Della Maddalena's defensive block in the clinch.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who carries a professional record of 35 wins and 17 losses, called the knee work some of the best he had witnessed in a long time. The Florida native compared the performance to Mortal Kombat, and pointed out a crucial tactical detail: the constant threat of the knee effectively neutralized Della Maddalena's clinch boxing, taking away one of his most reliable tools.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old southpaw from the United States with a 30-10 record, joined the conversation alongside coach Dean Thomas, both noting how fluidly Prates blended his knee strikes with punches. That combination, they observed, made the knees nearly invisible until it was too late for Della Maddalena to react.
Why it matters
- Prates is emerging as a genuine threat in the welterweight division, with elite fighters now publicly studying his technique
- His ability to shut down clinch boxing disrupts a common game plan used by fighters at the top of the division
- The multi-fighter attention signals that opponents and coaches are already adjusting how they will prepare to face him
