UFC fighters analyze Carlos Prates' devastating knee strikes against JDM

Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance against Jack Della Maddalena, focusing particularly on his knee strikes. Corey Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' left knee fundamentally changed the fight, noting the unique spring-loaded delivery that generated exceptional power without a traditional step. Sandhagen also praised Prates' ability to transition the knee threat into left high kicks that wrapped around JDM's head, and his use of elbows to break through defensive blocks. Jorge Masvidal described Prates' knees as covering tremendous distance and effectively shutting down JDM's ability to work in the clinch or box at close range, comparing the performance to "Mortal Kombat level" striking. Masvidal noted that Prates' length and knee game could trouble wrestlers like Islam Makhachev, though he cautioned that Makhachev's grappling represents a different stratosphere. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both emphasized how the knee and elbow strikes opened up JDM's defensive shell and that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allowed him to throw knees more freely.