Multiple UFC fighters and analysts provided technical breakdowns of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance in his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted Prates' unique springing motion generating exceptional power, noting how he transitioned the knee threat into high kicks by wrapping over the head when facing a southpaw. Sandhagen praised the technique as uniquely high-level and credited Prates' elbows for breaking through the defensive block that Sandhagen himself couldn't overcome against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how Prates covered massive distance with his knees and used the threat alone to shut down DdM's inside boxing and clinch work, calling it some of the best knee work he'd seen in years. Masvidal speculated Prates could threaten Makhachev with these knees on level changes but acknowledged Makhachev's grappling as potentially overwhelming. Dean Thomas noted the knees were effectively hidden within Prates' hand combinations. Dustin Poirier observed that Prates' fearlessness of takedowns allowed him to throw knees more aggressively.
