Multiple UFC fighters offered detailed analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strike technique following his performance. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates throws knees with spring-loaded power rather than stepping into them, generating force by pushing explosively from the ground, and noted his unique ability to transition the knee setup into a high kick that wraps over the opponent's head. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how Prates used the threat of knees to shut down Du Plessis's close-range boxing and body work, calling it some of the best knee work he's seen in years, though he cautioned that Islam Makhachev's wrestling could present problems. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates showed no fear of takedowns, allowing him to throw knees more freely and use them to break through Du Plessis's defensive guard. Dean Thomas noted that Prates' knees are difficult to see coming because he mixes them seamlessly with his hand strikes, preventing opponents from closing the distance for boxing exchanges.
