Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance. Cory Sandhagen highlighted that Prates' left knee was the game-changing weapon, noting the unique spring-loaded power generation rather than stepping into the strikes. Sandhagen also praised Prates' ability to transition the knee setup into high kicks and his use of elbows to break through the opponent's block. Jorge Masvidal compared the performance to Mortal Kombat, emphasizing how the knee threat completely shut down the opponent's close-range boxing and clinch work. Masvidal suggested Prates' length and knee strikes could trouble wrestlers like Islam Makhachev, though he believed Makhachev's grappling would be a nightmare if secured early. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both noted how Prates mixed his knees seamlessly with hand strikes and that his lack of takedown fear allowed him to throw knees more confidently.
Several prominent UFC figures took to social media and media appearances to break down Carlos Prates' technical masterclass in knee strikes, offering detailed analysis of how the Brazilian finished his opponent with a devastating lower-body clinch game.
Cory Sandhagen led the technical conversation, identifying Prates' left knee as the decisive weapon of the performance. Sandhagen was particularly impressed by the mechanics behind the strikes, noting that Prates generates power through a spring-loaded coiling action rather than simply stepping into contact — a subtlety that makes the strikes both harder to read and harder to defend. Sandhagen also highlighted how Prates used that knee threat as a platform, transitioning fluidly into high kicks and deploying elbows to dismantle his opponent's guard when the block came up.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who carries a 35-17 professional record, likened the performance to a video game, pointing out that the constant knee threat effectively neutralized his opponent's close-range boxing and willingness to engage in the clinch. Masvidal went further, suggesting Prates' length and knee strikes could create problems even for elite wrestlers, singling out lightweight and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev as a potential stylistic test. He acknowledged, however, that if Makhachev — who shoots at a rate of 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and holds a 28-1 record — secured an early takedown, his grappling would become a nightmare to manage.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team standout with a 30-10 record and a pace of 5.24 significant strikes per minute, joined coach Dean Thomas in praising the seamless blending of knees and hand combinations. Both men noted that Prates' comfort on the feet and absence of takedown anxiety allowed him to throw knees with a freedom and conviction that most fighters cannot replicate.
Why it matters
- Prates has established knee strikes as a primary weapon, complicating the game plan of any opponent willing to box close or shoot for takedowns
- Masvidal's comments place Prates in the conversation around the welterweight title picture, even if that path runs through Makhachev's elite grappling
- The cross-fighter praise signals genuine respect within the locker room for a rising threat in the division
