UFC fighters analyze Prates' devastating knee and elbow technique vs. Della Maddalena

Multiple UFC fighters offered detailed breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance against Jack Della Maddalena. Cory Sandhagen praised Prates' powerful left knee, noting it wasn't a simple step-through but involved full body spring and push, comparing it to Mortal Kombat-level technique. He highlighted how Prates transitioned the knee motion into a wrapping high kick and broke through Della Maddalena's guard with unique chopping elbows. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat alone shut down Della Maddalena's clinch work and body attacks, calling it some of the best knee work he'd seen in a long time. He noted Prates' length advantage could trouble wrestlers like Islam Makhachev, though he acknowledged Makhachev's elite grappling would be a nightmare if he secured early takedowns. Dean Thomas and Dustin Poirier also praised how Prates mixed knees seamlessly with hand strikes and showed no fear of takedowns.