Multiple UFC fighters provided technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates's knee strike performance in his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted the unique spring-loaded power generation in Prates's left knee, noting it wasn't a simple step-in technique but involved full-body propulsion that snapped his opponent's head back. Sandhagen also praised how Prates transitioned the knee threat into left high kicks by wrapping over the head, demonstrating sophisticated striking adaptation against southpaws. He additionally noted Prates's use of slicing elbows to break through defensive blocks, something Sandhagen himself couldn't accomplish against Petr Yan due to the block's effectiveness. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat alone disabled DdM's inside boxing and clinch work, calling it some of the best knee work he'd seen in years and comparing Prates's overall performance to Mortal Kombat. Masvidal suggested Prates's length and knees could stop wrestlers like Makhachev during level changes, though he acknowledged Makhachev's grappling is on another level. Dean Thomas noted the knees were well-hidden within Prates's hand combinations, while Dustin Poirier observed that Prates's lack of takedown fear allowed him to throw knees more confidently.
