UFC fighters analyze Carlos Prates's devastating knee strikes against Della Maddalena

Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed breakdowns of Carlos Prates's striking performance, particularly his knee techniques. Corey Sandhagen described Prates's left knee as a game-changer, noting it wasn't a simple step-in knee but involved full-body spring mechanics that generated tremendous power. Sandhagen also highlighted how Prates converted the knee setup into high kicks by wrapping around the head, calling it "mega high level." Jorge Masvidal praised how Prates covered distance with his knees and effectively neutralized Della Maddalena's ability to work in the clinch or box at close range, calling it "Mortal Kombat level" striking. Dustin Poirier noted that Prates broke through Della Maddalena's guard using knees and elbows, and his confidence in throwing knees showed he wasn't afraid of takedowns. Dean Thomas observed that Prates's knees were well-disguised within his hand combinations. The consensus among fighters is that Prates demonstrated exceptional striking technique that could pose problems even for champion Islam Makhachev, though they acknowledge Makhachev's wrestling remains on another level.