UFC fighters analyze devastating knee strikes from Prates victory

Multiple UFC fighters and analysts provided detailed breakdowns of the knee strikes that defined a recent Prates victory. Corey Sandhagen praised Prates' unique knee technique, noting he generates power by springing upward rather than stepping, and seamlessly transitions knees into high kicks by wrapping over the opponent's head. Sandhagen highlighted how Prates used elbows to break through defensive blocks in ways that differ from standard techniques. Jorge Masvidal called it one of the best knee performances he has seen in years, noting how the knee threats completely shut down the opponent's close-range boxing and body work. He compared Prates' performance to "Mortal Kombat" level striking but warned that Islam Makhachev's wrestling would present a nightmare scenario. Dean Thomas noted how effectively Prates disguised his knees within hand combinations. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates showed no fear of takedowns, which allowed him to throw knees more aggressively and break through blocks with knee and elbow combinations.