Multiple UFC veterans provided detailed analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strike technique following his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen praised Prates' unique spring-loaded knee delivery that generated exceptional power, noting how he mixed knees with high kicks by wrapping over the head when facing southpaw opponents. Sandhagen also highlighted Prates' ability to break through defensive guards with elbows. Jorge Masvidal compared the performance to Mortal Kombat, emphasizing how the knee threat neutralized the opponent's offense and suggested Prates' length could trouble wrestlers, though he believes Islam Makhachev's grappling would present serious problems. Dean Thomas noted the knees were difficult to see as they mixed seamlessly with hand strikes, while Dustin Poirier observed that Prates' confidence in his takedown defense allowed him to throw knees without fear.
A recent victory by Carlos Prates sparked a wave of technical breakdowns from notable UFC veterans, each offering detailed observations on the Brazilian striker's increasingly feared knee attack.
Cory Sandhagen described Prates' delivery as a spring-loaded mechanism that generates exceptional power, noting how he varies the attack by wrapping over an opponent's head when facing southpaw fighters and mixing knees with high kicks to keep defenses guessing. Sandhagen also pointed to Prates' use of elbows as a tool to break through opponents' guards, adding another layer to an already complex offensive system.
Jorge Masvidal, the 41-year-old veteran carrying a 35-17 record, compared watching Prates work to playing Mortal Kombat, emphasizing how the constant knee threat effectively shut down his opponent's ability to generate offense. Masvidal acknowledged that Prates' length could create serious problems for wrestlers but suggested Islam Makhachev's elite grappling would present a different kind of challenge altogether.
Makhachev, the current welterweight champion ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound list, averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and holds a 28-1 record, making him the kind of opponent who would test any striker's takedown defense.
Dustin Poirier, the 37-year-old American Top Team product with a 30-10 record, offered a particularly sharp observation: Prates' confidence in his own takedown defense is what frees him to throw knees aggressively and without hesitation. Dean Thomas echoed that sentiment from a technical angle, noting the strikes blend so seamlessly with hand combinations that opponents struggle to identify them until it is too late.
Why it matters
- Prates is emerging as one of the most technically distinctive strikers in his division, drawing comparisons and serious attention from established veterans
- The knee threat, when combined with elbow work and high kicks, creates a multilayered problem that neutralizes both offensive and defensive opponents
- Commentary from fighters like Masvidal raises the question of how Prates' style would hold up against elite wrestling, keeping his trajectory a point of legitimate debate
