UFC fighters analyze Carlos Prates' devastating knee strikes against JDM

Multiple UFC fighters have provided technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance, particularly his knee strikes, in his victory over Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen praised Prates' left knee as a game-changer, noting the explosive spring-loaded power rather than simple stepping motion, and highlighted how Prates cleverly mixed the knee setup with high kicks that wrapped around the head. Sandhagen also praised Prates' elbow work that broke through JDM's defensive shell, comparing it favorably to his own struggles against Petr Yan's guard. Jorge Masvidal called it some of the best knee work he'd seen in a long time, noting how the threat alone prevented JDM from working the body or boxing in the clinch, comparing the performance to "Mortal Kombat" level striking. Dustin Poirier emphasized that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allowed him to throw knees more confidently. Dean Thomas noted how well Prates disguised the knees within his hand combinations. The consensus among the fighters was that Prates demonstrated an exceptionally high level of striking sophistication.