Several prominent UFC fighters have provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strikes following his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen emphasized that Prates' left knee was the game-changing weapon, noting it wasn't a standard step-in knee but rather a technique where Prates springs up with tremendous force, pushing explosively. Sandhagen called the striking "mega high level" and praised Prates' ability to transition the knee setup into high kicks. Jorge Masvidal highlighted how Prates' knees cover exceptional distance and create so much threat that opponents can't work in close range or clinch effectively, comparing the performance to "Mortal Kombat." Masvidal believes Prates' length and knee strikes could stop wrestlers like Islam Makhachev when they change levels, though he acknowledged Makhachev's grappling would be a nightmare if he secures early takedowns. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both noted how Prates uses knees and elbows to break through defensive guards, with Poirier observing that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allows him to throw knees more aggressively.
A recent victory by Carlos Prates has sparked a wave of detailed technical analysis from several notable UFC fighters, each breaking down what makes his knee strikes so difficult to deal with.
Cory Sandhagen offered one of the more precise assessments, identifying Prates' left knee as the defining weapon in the performance. Sandhagen noted it is not a conventional step-in knee but instead a technique built on explosive upward force, with Prates springing off the ground with serious power. He described the striking as "mega high level" and pointed to Prates' ability to chain the knee setup directly into high kicks as a particular sign of technical sophistication.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who carries a 35-17 record and has long been one of the sport's most respected striking minds, described the performance in vivid terms, comparing it to "Mortal Kombat." Masvidal argued that the sheer range of Prates' knees eliminates the option for opponents to work in close or initiate clinch sequences. He also raised the question of how Prates' knee threat might function against a wrestler changing levels, specifically mentioning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, while acknowledging that Makhachev's grappling would be a nightmare scenario if he secured early takedowns. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making that concern well-founded.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team standout with a 30-10 record who lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute, joined the conversation alongside analyst Dean Thomas. Both highlighted how Prates uses knees and elbows to dismantle defensive guards. Poirier specifically observed that Prates throws his knees with greater freedom because he does not fear being taken down, which allows him to commit to the technique more aggressively.
Why it matters
- Prates is emerging as a genuine contender whose striking is drawing attention from fighters across multiple divisions
- His knee threat disrupts both the clinch game and takedown entries, presenting unusual problems for grapplers
- The cross-divisional discussion, including mentions of a champion like Makhachev, signals how seriously the wider UFC roster is taking his recent form
