Carlos Prates has achieved several historic UFC milestones in record-breaking fashion across his first eight promotional fights. He earned seven knockout victories faster than anyone in UFC history, accomplishing this in eight bouts compared to the previous record holders Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez who needed nine fights. Only 2.29% of all UFC fighters (62 out of 2,710) have ever accumulated seven knockouts in the organization. Prates also recorded 14 knockdowns in just 17 incomplete rounds, setting the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes of fight time in UFC history. Additionally, he earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses faster than any fighter ever, needing only eight bouts while others typically required 15 fights to reach that milestone. The post characterizes Prates' eight-fight run as one of the top three most spectacular starts in UFC history, noting he has knocked out two former UFC champions who had never been knocked out before. The analysis suggests that if Islam Makhachev defeats opponents like Garry, Prates, and Shavkat Rakhmonov, he could surpass Jon Jones' legacy.
Carlos Prates has carved his name into the UFC record books in stunning fashion, achieving a cluster of historic milestones across his first eight fights in the promotion.
The Brazilian knockout artist reached seven UFC knockouts faster than any fighter in promotional history, accomplishing the feat in just eight bouts. The previous record was held jointly by former heavyweight champions Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez, who each needed nine fights to reach that mark. Velasquez, now 43, finished his UFC career with a 14-3-0 record and was one of the most physically dominant heavyweights of his era, averaging 5.13 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside his powerful striking. For Prates to surpass that benchmark in fewer fights underscores just how relentlessly he has finished opponents.
Beyond the knockouts themselves, Prates has accumulated 14 knockdowns in only 17 incomplete rounds, producing the highest average knockdown rate per 15 minutes in UFC history. He has also earned seven Performance of the Night bonuses in eight fights, a pace that shattered the previous standard, which typically required around 15 bouts. Fewer than three percent of all UFC fighters — 62 out of 2,710 — have ever recorded seven knockouts in the organization.
Analysis surrounding his run places it among the top three most spectacular starts in UFC history, with particular note that he has knocked out two former UFC champions who had never previously been stopped by strikes.
Why it matters
- Prates' knockdown rate and bonus accumulation pace set new statistical ceilings for finishing ability in the UFC
- Reaching seven knockouts faster than dos Santos and Velasquez places him in rarefied heavyweight-level company despite competing at welterweight
- Separate analysis in the same report raises the question of whether Islam Makhachev, if he defeats opponents including Prates and Shavkat Rakhmonov — the undefeated Kazakhstani ranked third at welterweight at 19-0-0 — could eventually surpass Jon Jones, who holds a 28-1-0 record, as the sport's benchmark for all-time greatness
