UFC fighters analyze Carlos Prates' devastating knee strikes against Della Maddalena

Multiple UFC fighters have offered detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strikes in his victory over Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates generates power by springing into his knees rather than simply stepping, and noted his ability to transition from knee threats to high kicks that wrap around the head. Jorge Masvidal compared the performance to Mortal Kombat, praising how the knee threats shut down Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body work. Dean Thomas emphasized how Prates mixes knees seamlessly with his hands, making them difficult to see. Dustin Poirier noted that Prates used knees and elbows to break through Della Maddalena's guard, and that his fearlessness of takedowns allows him to throw knees more aggressively. The consensus among analysts is that Prates' knees represent an elite-level skill set, though Masvidal suggested Islam Makhachev's wrestling could pose significant problems.