UFC fighters analyze Carlos Prates' devastating knee strikes

Several prominent UFC fighters have broken down the knee strike techniques that Carlos Prates used to dominate his recent opponent. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates generates unique power by springing upward rather than stepping into his knees, and praised his ability to transition the knee feint into high kicks that wrap around opponents in southpaw stance, calling it "mega high level." Sandhagen also noted Prates' use of slicing elbows to break through defensive guards. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how Prates' knee threat neutralized his opponent's ability to work in the clinch or box at close range, calling it "some Mortal Kombat level shit," though he cautioned that Islam Makhachev's elite wrestling could present problems. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates showed no fear of takedowns, which allowed him to throw knees more aggressively. Dean Thomas praised how seamlessly Prates mixed his knees with punches, making them difficult to see coming.