UFC fighters praise Carlos Prates' devastating knee strikes against Della Maddalena

Multiple UFC fighters offered detailed analysis of Carlos Prates' elite-level knee striking against Jack Della Maddalena, calling it "Mortal Kombat level" technique. Corey Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' spring-loaded left knee changed the fight and mixed seamlessly into high kicks, noting the unique mechanics of wrapping kicks around a southpaw's higher shoulder position. Jorge Masvidal praised how the knee threat alone shut down Della Maddalena's clinch boxing and body work, comparing it to some of the best knee work he'd seen in years. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allowed him to throw knees more aggressively. The consensus was that Prates' striking arsenal, particularly combined with his length and anti-wrestling ability, makes him a nightmare matchup for wrestlers like Islam Makhachev.