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.
Several prominent UFC fighters have weighed in with detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates's striking display against Jack Della Maddalena, with the consensus pointing to knee strikes as the defining weapon of the performance.
Corey Sandhagen led the analysis, describing Prates's left knee as a genuine game-changer. Sandhagen emphasized that the technique was not a simple step-in knee but relied on full-body spring mechanics that generated exceptional power. He also noted how Prates used the same setup to transition into high kicks by wrapping around the opponent's head, calling the combination sequence "mega high level."
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran carrying a 35-17 record, praised how effectively Prates used his knees to close distance and shut down Della Maddalena's close-range boxing and clinch work. Masvidal described the striking as "Mortal Kombat level," pointing to how thoroughly Prates neutralized his opponent's inside game.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team southpaw at 30-10, added that Prates broke through Della Maddalena's guard with knees and elbows, and that the confidence with which Prates threw knees signaled he had little concern about being taken down. Dean Thomas rounded out the commentary by observing that the knees were cleverly disguised within hand combinations, making them harder to read and defend.
Why it matters
- Prates's knee-heavy attack represents a style few welterweights have developed at this level, raising his profile as a genuine contender
- Fighter peers singled out his ability to blend knees into combinations as an advanced technique that could trouble elite opponents
- Multiple analysts mentioned welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, the 34-year-old Russian sitting at 28-1 with 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, as a potential future obstacle — acknowledging that while Prates's striking may pose real problems, Makhachev's wrestling operates on a different tier entirely
