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.
