Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance against his recent opponent. Cory Sandhagen emphasized that Prates' left knee was the fight-changing weapon, noting the unique mechanics where Prates springs upward rather than stepping into the strike, generating exceptional power. Sandhagen also highlighted how Prates mixed high kicks with knee threats and used elbows to break through defensive blocks in ways Sandhagen himself struggled with against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal called it some of the best knee work he's seen in years, comparing the performance to Mortal Kombat and noting how the knee threat completely shut down his opponent's ability to work in close range or from the clinch. Masvidal suggested Prates could use these knees defensively against wrestlers like Islam Makhachev, though he believes Makhachev's grappling would be a nightmare if he secures an early takedown. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both praised how Prates mixed knees with punches and used them alongside elbows to dismantle defensive structures, with Poirier noting that Prates' confidence in his takedown defense allows him to throw knees more aggressively.
Several prominent UFC fighters took to social media and broadcast platforms to dissect Carlos Prates' recent performance, offering detailed technical analysis of the Brazilian contender's destructive knee strike arsenal that dismantled his opponent.
Cory Sandhagen led the breakdown community's response, pinpointing Prates' left knee as the defining weapon of the fight. Sandhagen described an unusual mechanical approach in which Prates springs upward to generate power rather than stepping into the strike in the conventional manner. Sandhagen also noted how Prates layered high kicks alongside knee threats and deployed elbows to crack open defensive shells — a combination Sandhagen acknowledged he personally struggled to solve against Petr Yan.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old American Top Team veteran who holds a 35-17 professional record and has landed significant strikes at a rate of 4.05 per minute across his career, called the knee work some of the finest he has witnessed in years, likening the spectacle to Mortal Kombat. Masvidal observed that the constant knee threat entirely neutralized his opponent's ability to operate in close quarters or establish clinch control. He floated the idea that Prates could deploy those knees defensively against a wrestler of Islam Makhachev's caliber, while also conceding that Makhachev's grappling would become a nightmare scenario if the champion secured an early takedown. Makhachev, the reigning champion ranked first pound-for-pound, averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and shoots with 58 percent striking accuracy across a 28-1 career record.
Dustin Poirier, a 37-year-old southpaw out of American Top Team with a 30-10 record who lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute, joined coach Dean Thomas in praising how Prates blended knees with punches and elbows to systematically dismantle his opponent's guard. Poirier specifically highlighted that Prates' confidence in his own takedown defense frees him to commit fully to knee strikes without hesitation.
Why it matters
- The peer analysis signals that Prates' knee game is being viewed as a legitimate elite-level weapon inside the locker room, not just by commentators.
- Masvidal's mention of Makhachev points to Prates entering the conversation around lightweight title contention.
- Poirier's observation about takedown defense confidence adds a tactical dimension to how opponents may approach Prates going forward.
