Is Prates the hardest hitter at 170 outside of Anthony Johnson?

[WoozyFailGuy]

He has cracked previously unbroken chins in Leech and Edwards, is Prates truly mini-Poatan?

most gifs courtesy of Sherdog's own @KazDibiase

 

[Mammothman]

He seems to have the touch of death, it doesn't look that powerful but when he touched right you are done.

Rumble (RIP) was more like explosive power Ngannou-esque joe.

 

[Travis Alexander]

It’s shot placement and timing with him. Just very well timed well placed shots.

 

[STAY GOLD]

It’s shot placement and timing with him. Just very well timed well placed shots.

This is spot on. It’s mostly his accuracy over his power. Not saying he’s not a hard hitter, but that’s not the key with him.

 

[jeff7b9]

It’s shot placement and timing with him. Just very well timed well placed shots.

And I'll repeat myself again

Anthony Rumble Johnson deserves WAY more credit for his:


Accuracy
Timing
Setups
Range management
Defense


Beautiful knockouts do not magically fall from the sky.

 

[AZZA B]

Michael Morales hits like a truck too, but yeah Prates has special power

 

[Egészségére!]

IDK Morales had some pretty impressive snap in those punches tonight too

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

He has cracked previously unbroken chins in Leech and Edwards, is Prates truly mini-Poatan?

most gifs courtesy of Sherdog's own @KazDibiase

 

[Rektkid]

Morales says HI!

 

[JustOnce]

Paul Daley also hit pretty hard at 170.

I think he's more like Aspinall, he's accurate and place his shots well.

 

[mkt]

Hendricks says hello.

 

[ExitLUPin]

I think it's more striking skill, placement, timing than it is pure power. At the exact moment he caught Leon, he was backing up with his feet damn near mid-air, with no ability to use his legs to absorb the impact of the strike. Even someone with little power is going to do serious damage hitting someone in such a compromised defensive position.

 

[Skarsgard]

Hendricks says hello.

Eh. Hendricks had big power for like two fights.

 

[palasekan]

Buckley has got some horsepower in his striking but Prates would probably piece him up with accuracy and timing until Buckley had only ponypower left.

 

[mkt]

Eh. Hendricks had big power for like two fights.

That video shows like 5 KO's.

 

[CatchtheseHands]

Prates has the most KO power at the top of the division right now for sure but to be fair we haven't really seen Prates fight anyone whose chin isn't suspect or shot. Leon's chin has been sus ever since Nate had him on skates, Magny's chin was shot, and Neal's chin was very likely cracked after his war with Shavkat. Until we see him KO someone with a proven chin like Belal or JDM I don't think we can say he 100% has the touch of death yet.

 

[Koya]

He seems to have the touch of death, it doesn't look that powerful but when he touched right you are done.

Rumble (RIP) was more like explosive power Ngannou-esque joe.

Reminds me of Volkan Oezdemir when he first came to the UFC. It's weird because it's doesn't look destructive like the Rumble/Ngannou bombs that make you jump out of your seat but it's more like he touches them exactly in their On/Off button. Look at Edwards and Neil it's like they've been extinguished.

 

[Skarsgard]

That video shows like 5 KO's.

The video showed two nasty KO's, two questionable stoppages, and a failure to knock Charlie Brenneman out. If anything it helped prove my point.

 

[MMASpeculator]

Yea his lanky leverage + accurate placement makes it seem otherwordly. Leon was moving backwards while Prates overextended and still send him to the shadow realm. Very odd.

I hope they set up Prates vs Morales for a standup fight instead of letting Islam maul him though.

 

[Jayofteror]

He is definitely one of the most leathal strikers that I have ever seen in MMA and he is a real threat to everyone in his division.