UFC fighters analyze Prates' devastating knee and elbow techniques against Della Maddalena

Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking arsenal following his victory over Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen highlighted Prates' left knee as a game-changing weapon, noting the unique spring-loaded delivery that generated exceptional power without a traditional step. Sandhagen also praised Prates' ability to transition the knee setup into high kicks that wrapped around the head, exploiting the higher shoulder position of southpaw opponents. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat completely shut down Della Maddalena's inside boxing and body work, comparing Prates' performance to "Mortal Kombat level" striking. Dustin Poirier noted that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allowed him to throw knees more aggressively, while Dean Thomas observed how well Prates mixed his knees with hand strikes, making them difficult to anticipate. The fighters collectively viewed the performance as one of the highest-level striking displays in recent UFC history.