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.
