UFC fighters analyze Carlos Prates' devastating knee strikes against opponent

Multiple UFC fighters provided detailed technical analysis of Carlos Prates' knee strike performance in his recent victory. Cory Sandhagen highlighted how Prates' left knee fundamentally changed the fight, noting the unique power generation from springing upward rather than stepping, and how Prates transitioned these knee threats into high kicks that wrapped around his southpaw opponent's head. Sandhagen also praised Prates' elbow work for breaking through his opponent's guard, something Sandhagen struggled with against Petr Yan. Jorge Masvidal emphasized how the knee threat alone shut down his opponent's ability to work the body or box in the clinch, calling it some of the best knee work he'd seen in years, though he warned that Islam Makhachev's wrestling could pose problems. Dustin Poirier and Dean Thomas both noted how Prates mixed his knees seamlessly with his hands, making them difficult to see coming, and how his lack of takedown fear allowed him to throw them more freely.