Multiple UFC fighters provided technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance, particularly his knees and elbows. Cory Sandhagen praised Prates' left knee, noting he generates power by springing his entire body rather than just stepping, and highlighted his unique wraparound high kick that catches southpaw opponents. Sandhagen also analyzed how Prates broke through his opponent's block with elbows, something Sandhagen couldn't do against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal called Prates' knee work "Mortal Kombat level" and noted how the knee threat completely shut down his opponent's ability to work in the clinch. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates isn't afraid of takedowns, which allows him to throw knees more confidently. Dean Thomas noted how Prates mixes his knees seamlessly with hand strikes, making them difficult to see coming.
A recent performance from Carlos Prates drew widespread admiration from the UFC community, with several prominent fighters offering detailed technical analysis of his knee and elbow work in the days following his outing.
Cory Sandhagen broke down what makes Prates' left knee so effective, explaining that Prates generates power by springing through his entire body rather than simply stepping into the strike. Sandhagen also highlighted a wraparound high kick that Prates uses specifically to catch southpaw opponents, and noted that the Brazilian's ability to break through a guard with elbows was something Sandhagen himself acknowledged he could not replicate in his own bout against Petr Yan.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who carries a 35-17 record and lands significant strikes at a rate of 4.05 per minute, described Prates' knee work as "Mortal Kombat level." Masvidal pointed out that the constant threat of the knee rendered Prates' opponents unable to operate in the clinch, effectively neutralizing a common offensive tool at close range.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old southpaw from American Top Team who lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute over his 30-10 career, offered a tactical observation: Prates' willingness to accept takedown attempts gives him the freedom to throw knees without hesitation, because he does not feel the need to protect against the grappling exchange.
Veteran coach Dean Thomas rounded out the analysis by noting how naturally Prates integrates knees into his combinations with hand strikes, making them exceptionally difficult for opponents to anticipate or defend.
Why it matters
- Prates is emerging as a technically distinct striker in his division, drawing unsolicited praise from multiple elite-level practitioners
- His knee threat disrupts both clinch work and defensive postures, creating a layered problem for opponents
- The cross-fighter recognition suggests Prates' style is being studied seriously across the roster
