Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates's striking performance, particularly his knee and elbow attacks. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates's left knee fundamentally changed the fight, noting the unique spring-loaded power generation rather than traditional stepping mechanics, and praised Prates's ability to transition the knee motion into high kicks that wrapped around his opponent's head. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat alone shut down his opponent's boxing and clinch work, comparing the performance to "Mortal Kombat" level striking, though he cautioned that Islam Makhachev's wrestling could pose problems. Dean Thomas noted the knees were well-disguised within Prates's hand combinations, while Dustin Poirier observed that Prates's lack of takedown fear allowed him to throw knees more aggressively. The consensus among the fighters was that Prates demonstrated elite-level striking innovation and effectiveness.
