Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' striking performance, particularly his knee strikes and elbows. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' left knee changed the fight, noting the unique spring-loaded power generation rather than traditional step-in mechanics. He also analyzed how Prates transitioned the knee threat into high kicks that wrapped around the head when facing southpaw opponents. Sandhagen praised Prates' use of raking elbows to break through defensive blocks, a technique Sandhagen himself struggled with against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat alone neutralized his opponent's ability to work the body or box in the clinch, calling it some of the best knee work he'd seen in years. However, Masvidal warned that Islam Makhachev's wrestling could pose a nightmare scenario if he secures early takedowns. Dustin Poirier noted that Prates' lack of takedown fear allowed him to throw knees more confidently. Dean Thomas observed how seamlessly Prates mixed knees with his hand work, making them difficult to anticipate.
