Multiple UFC fighters provided technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking against Dricus Du Plessis. Cory Sandhagen highlighted Prates' unique knee strikes that generated power through a spring-like motion rather than stepping, and his ability to transition knees into high kicks that wrapped over the head. He also praised Prates' ripping elbows that broke through Du Plessis' guard, noting they were a different type than traditional tomahawks. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how Prates' knee threat covered distance and shut down Du Plessis' clinch work and body punching, calling it some of the best knee work he's seen in a long time. Both Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas noted how Prates mixed knees with punches to make them harder to see and broke the guard with knees and elbows.
