Multiple UFC fighters and analysts have dissected Carlos Prates' striking performance, particularly his knee strikes and elbows. Cory Sandhagen highlighted Prates' unique springing knee technique that generates exceptional power without a traditional step, and his ability to transition the same motion into high kicks that wrap around the opponent's guard. Sandhagen noted how Prates used ripping elbows to break through defensive blocks, a challenge Sandhagen himself faced against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal praised the distance coverage and threat of Prates' knees, comparing his overall performance to Mortal Kombat and suggesting his length and knee game could trouble wrestlers like Islam Makhachev, though acknowledged Makhachev's wrestling is on another level. Dean Thomas and Dustin Poirier both emphasized how Prates mixed his knees seamlessly with hand strikes and showed no fear of takedowns, which allowed him to throw knees more aggressively.
