UFC 322: Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates Preview & Prediction
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Leon Edwards returns against dangerous finisher Carlos Prates in a high-stakes welterweight showdown at UFC 322.
Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates facts
What time are Leon Edwards and Carlos Prates expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 322
What TV channel is UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev main card
Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev (Welterweight)
Valentina Shevchenko vs Zhang Weili (Women’s Flyweight)
Sean Brady vs Michael Morales (Welterweight)
Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint Denis (Lightweight)
UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs Makhachev prelims
Bo Nickal vs Rodolfo Vieira (Middleweight)
Roman Kopylov vs Gregory Rodrigues (Middleweight)
Erin Blanchfield vs Tracy Cortez (Women’s Flyweight)
Malcolm Wellmaker vs Ethyn Ewing (Featherweight)
Kyle Daukaus vs Gerald Meerschaert (Middleweight)
Pat Sabatini vs Chepe Mariscal (Featherweight)
Angela Hill vs Fatima Kline (Women’s Strawweight)
Baisangur Susurkaev vs Eric McConico (Middleweight)
Viacheslav Borshchev vs Matheus Camilo (Lightweight)
Carlos Prates: Explosive knockout artist riding major momentum
Carlos “The Nightmare” Prates (22-7) enters his biggest opportunity in the UFC to date, stepping in against a former champion with legitimate momentum behind him. Prates is widely regarded as one of the most devastating kickboxers in the welterweight division — a long, powerful striker with lethal kicking variety and true knockout touch. With 77% of his wins coming by KO (17 of 22) and a proven history across promotions like LFA, ONE Championship, and now the UFC, Prates has built a reputation as one of the hardest hitters at 170. His recent run includes a highlight-reel spinning elbow finish of Geoff Neal, along with stoppages of Neil Magny and Williams before entering the UFC. While his power is unquestioned, his career has also shown some volatility: each of his seven losses has come by finish, and when opponents can slow him down or force him on the back foot, his output tends to become more predictable.
Despite his explosiveness, Prates has yet to defeat a top-tier contender with championship-level experience. His lone UFC loss came to Ian Machado Garry, where Prates struggled to deal with Garry’s tempo changes, jabs, and range management. That fight exposed some of the holes in his defensive reads — particularly early-round passivity and difficulty building rhythm against elite technical strikers. Still, his willingness to stay in the pocket, mix elbows and body kicks, and throw with confidence at all ranges keeps him live at all times. Prates is entering his physical prime, he’s in the best form of his career, and he brings a style that can give almost anyone trouble if they cannot manage distance or pace. Against a fighter who lingers in his striking range, Prates becomes one of the most dangerous knockout threats in the sport.
Leon Edwards: Former champion seeking to halt a skid and reassert elite form
Leon “Rocky” Edwards (22-5, 1 NC) returns looking to snap a rare two-fight losing streak after back-to-back defeats against Sean Brady and Belal Muhammad — two of the most relentless grapplers in the division. While those matchups exposed Edwards’ increasing difficulty dealing with high-pressure wrestling, they didn’t diminish the core strengths that made him champion. Edwards is still one of the most technical and defensively sound strikers at 170. He’s a master of distance management, patient shot selection, clean kicking technique, and calculated countering. With over half his career wins coming by decision (11) and the rest spread across submissions and TKOs, Edwards is a fighter who systematically breaks down opponents rather than relying purely on power. Victories over Kamaru Usman (twice), Colby Covington, Rafael dos Anjos, and Nate Diaz remain clear evidence that Edwards performs at his best against strikers and mid-range fighters who don’t impose a smothering wrestling threat.
Edwards’ recent losses came against styles specifically designed to neutralize his strengths — heavy wrestling, clinch pressure, and nonstop grappling transitions. Against a pure striker like Prates, the matchup dynamic is entirely different. Edwards thrives in technical striking battles where he can dictate range, pick his shots, and avoid unnecessary brawls. His footwork, jab-feint sequences, and kicking diversity make him extremely difficult to counter cleanly, and unlike Jeff Neal — who marched forward aggressively against Prates — Edwards rarely overcommits or gives opponents the predictable entries they need to land knockout blows. He has faced significantly higher-level competition throughout his career, and his striking IQ and composure alone give him an edge in a matchup that will almost certainly be contested on the feet.
Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates prediction
This matchup presents a fascinating stylistic contrast: Prates brings fight-ending power and long-range explosiveness, while Edwards offers championship-level technique, patience, and seasoned defensive discipline. Prates is absolutely capable of producing another highlight-reel finish if he forces Edwards into the pocket and lands clean. However, his struggles against elite technical strikers — most notably Ian Machado Garry — suggest that he still lacks the tactical layers needed to consistently win rounds against opponents who manage distance well.
Edwards has a vastly deeper résumé, far more experience against elite opposition, and a style built to neutralize reckless forward movement. He should be able to stay composed, read Prates’ entries, chip away with kicks, and outpoint the Brazilian over three rounds without engaging in the kind of chaos that Prates thrives in.
Prediction: Leon Edwards to win by decision
