UFC fighters analyze Prates' devastating knee strikes against Della Maddalena

Multiple UFC fighters offered detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance against Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen praised Prates' unique knee technique, noting how he generates power by springing rather than stepping, and how he transitions the knee threat into high kicks. Sandhagen also highlighted Prates' elbows for breaking through Della Maddalena's defensive block. Jorge Masvidal compared Prates' knee work to "Mortal Kombat" level striking, emphasizing how the knee threat shut down Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and body work. Both fighters discussed the implications for a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev, with Masvidal suggesting the knees could trouble Makhachev's takedown entries but acknowledging Makhachev's superior grappling. Dean Thomas and Dustin Poirier also contributed analysis of how Prates mixed his knees with hand strikes and broke defensive structures.