Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed breakdowns of Carlos Prates's knee strike technique following his victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates's left knee changed the fight, noting he generates power not from stepping but by springing his entire body upward, causing opponent Jack Della Maddalena's head to snap back. Sandhagen also praised Prates's ability to transition the knee motion into high kicks that wrap around the head, adjusting his technique based on opponent stance. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how Prates covered exceptional distance with his knees and how the threat alone disabled Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body work, calling it some of the best knee work he's seen in a long time. Masvidal suggested Prates's length could trouble wrestlers like Islam Makhachev who attempt level changes, though he believes Makhachev's grappling remains a different stratosphere. Dean Thomas noted how Prates disguises his knees within his hand strikes, preventing opponents from seeing them coming. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates used knees and elbows to break through Della Maddalena's guard, and his fearlessness of takedowns allows him to throw knees more aggressively.
Several prominent UFC fighters took to social media and video analysis following Carlos Prates's victory over Jack Della Maddalena, offering detailed technical breakdowns of the Brazilian's knee strikes and why they proved so difficult to defend.
Cory Sandhagen focused on the mechanics behind Prates's left knee, explaining that the power comes not from a conventional stepping motion but from Prates springing his entire body upward, generating force that snapped Della Maddalena's head back on contact. Sandhagen also noted that Prates seamlessly transitions the same knee motion into high kicks that wrap around the head, and that he adjusts his technique depending on his opponent's stance.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old veteran carrying a 35-17 record, was particularly effusive in his praise. The American Top Team fighter emphasized the exceptional distance Prates covers with his knees, and argued that the mere threat of those strikes effectively neutralized Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body work. Masvidal called it some of the best knee work he has seen in a long time. He also raised the possibility that Prates's length could create problems for wrestlers who attempt level changes, specifically mentioning welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, though he was careful to note that Makhachev's grappling operates in a different stratosphere. Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and averages 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes, making him one of the most prolific grapplers in the sport.
Dean Thomas contributed a different layer to the analysis, pointing out that Prates disguises his knees within combinations of hand strikes, making them nearly impossible for opponents to read in advance.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team veteran with a 30-10 record, observed that Prates used knees and elbows to break through Della Maddalena's guard. Poirier also highlighted that Prates shows little fear of takedowns, which gives him the freedom to commit more fully and aggressively to his knee attacks.
Why it matters
- Prates's knee technique is being recognized across the roster as genuinely elite, not just effective in isolation
- The takedown-fearlessness factor gives him a stylistic edge that limits opponents' defensive options
- Masvidal's comments linking Prates's length to potential problems for Makhachev adds a rankings-level dimension to the conversation
