Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance, particularly his knee strikes that changed the fight. Cory Sandhagen explained that Prates' left knee was the game-changer, delivered not with a step but by springing upward with tremendous force that made his opponent's head snap back, and that Prates cleverly transitioned the knee setup into high kicks that wrapped around the head. Sandhagen praised Prates' use of elbows to break through defensive blocks, noting the unique ripping style that differs from standard tomahawks. Jorge Masvidal highlighted how Prates covered impressive distance with his knees and neutralized his opponent's close-range boxing by constantly threatening with knee strikes, calling it "Mortal Kombat level" work. Masvidal suggested Prates' length and knees could stop wrestlers like Islam Makhachev, though he acknowledged Makhachev's grappling operates at a different stratosphere. Dustin Poirier and Din Thomas both emphasized how Prates' knees and elbows were seamlessly mixed with his hands, breaking down defenses while showing no fear of takedowns.
