TLDR
- Carlos Prates faces former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden on Saturday
- Prates bounced back from his first UFC loss to Ian Machado Garry with a spinning back-elbow knockout of Geoff Neal in August
- The Brazilian fighter believes Edwards has lost his competitive edge after losing his title and suffering back-to-back defeats
- Prates claims he will secure a title shot if he delivers an impressive knockout victory over Edwards
- Edwards is coming off consecutive losses for the first time in his career, most recently a submission defeat to Sean Brady in March
Carlos Prates returns to action this Saturday at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden. The Brazilian striker faces former welterweight champion Leon Edwards in what could be a career-defining moment.
Prates arrives at the iconic New York venue after rebounding from his first UFC loss. He knocked out Geoff Neal with a spinning back-elbow in the final second of the first round at UFC 319 in August. That finish came four months after his decision loss to Ian Machado Garry in April.
The 32-year-old fighter expressed excitement about competing at Madison Square Garden. He compared the venue to legends like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson who fought there before him. Prates holds five UFC victories, all coming by knockout.
Edwards presents a different challenge than Prates’ previous opponents. The British fighter is 34 years old and has 14 UFC wins on his record. He captured the welterweight title by knocking out Kamaru Usman with a head kick in 2022.
However, Edwards faces his own struggles heading into Saturday night. He lost his championship and has dropped two consecutive fights for the first time in his career. His most recent defeat came via submission to Sean Brady in March at a London event.
Questions About Edwards’ Motivation
Prates believes Edwards has lost his competitive fire after losing the belt. The Brazilian fighter suggests that former champions often struggle to recover after giving up their titles. He pointed out that Edwards showed signs of just trying to survive in difficult moments during fights.
Carlos Prates questions Leon Edwards' desire to fight before #UFC322: 'He's done' https://t.co/NDchM0H8ys
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) November 12, 2025
“We cannot teach heart,” Prates said during Wednesday’s media day. He thinks Edwards tends to give up when fights become challenging. The Brazilian plans to test the former champion’s resolve by creating difficult situations in the octagon.
Prates doesn’t view Edwards as particularly dangerous compared to his other opponents. He expects the British fighter to employ a cautious game plan. The Brazilian anticipates Edwards will use jabs and attempt takedowns late in rounds to secure a decision victory.
The Fighting Nerds representative trained extensively on his grappling for this matchup. He worked with Caio Borralho to prepare for Edwards’ wrestling. Prates holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but rarely needs to display those skills in fights.
Title Shot Implications
The welterweight division picture should become clearer after this weekend’s events. Jack Della Maddalena defends his title against Islam Makhachev in the main event. Several top-ranked fighters face each other between November 15 and 22 at UFC 322 and UFC Qatar.
Prates believes he offers the most exciting style among the contenders. He thinks fans prefer his knockout-focused approach over defensive wrestling strategies. The Brazilian stated that people pay to see violence and knockouts rather than grappling exchanges.
💰 UFC 322 Official Bet:
Carlos Prates Finish ONLY -225 3u
Best price by a good bit here on Fanatics. If it goes 15 it probably plays out close so no interest on the ML but I really think all of the finishing here comes from the Prates side. #UFC322 pic.twitter.com/mCbDTxPLIs
— Welterweight Wagers (@WWeight_Wagers) November 14, 2025
Ian Machado Garry fights Belal Muhammad next week at UFC Qatar. Garry holds the only victory over Prates in the UFC. The Irish fighter has nine wins in the promotion but six came by decision. Prates suggested that a boring victory by Garry could help his own title shot chances.
Prates wants to make a statement with an impressive finish. He plans to call for a title shot immediately after the fight if he wins. The Brazilian said he might return to the cage 30 minutes after his bout to address the new champion.
Edwards took the fight because he sees favorable matchups ahead. The former champion stated he wants to defeat Prates and Garry before fighting for the title again. Prates thinks Edwards views him as an easier opponent than fighters like Sean Brady or Kamaru Usman.
