Multiple UFC fighters and analysts have provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strikes in his recent victory over Dricus Du Plessis. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates generates unusual power by springing upward rather than stepping into his knees, and how he seamlessly transitions the knee setup into high kicks that wrap around the head. Sandhagen also praised Prates' use of elbows to break through DDP's guard, noting these were unique cutting elbows distinct from typical tomahawk strikes. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat completely shut down DDP's body work and close-range boxing, calling it "some Mortal Kombat level shit." He noted Prates' length advantage and knee effectiveness against wrestlers, though he warned Makhachev's wrestling would be a different challenge. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both commented on how Prates mixed his knees seamlessly with hand strikes, making them difficult to see coming. The consensus was that Prates displayed some of the most effective and technically sophisticated knee work seen in the UFC in recent memory.
