Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strikes in his victory over an opponent referred to as DdM. Cory Sandhagen highlighted the explosive power and spring-loaded mechanics of Prates' left knee, which he said changed the fight, and noted how Prates uniquely converted the knee setup into high kicks that wrapped around DdM's head when facing a southpaw stance. Sandhagen also praised Prates' use of elbows to break through DdM's tight guard, something Sandhagen couldn't accomplish against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal called it "some Mortal Kombat level stuff" and one of the best knee performances he'd seen in years, noting how the threat of knees disabled DdM's body work and close-range boxing. Both fighters discussed implications for a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev, with Masvidal suggesting Prates' knees could stop wrestlers but that Makhachev's grappling would be a nightmare if he secured early takedowns. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas also contributed observations about how the knees and elbows broke DdM's guard and were well-disguised within Prates' hand striking.
