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Carlos Prates Flattens Leon Edwards With Shocking Second Round KO at UFC 322

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Nov 16, 2025 9:34 AM ET

NEW YORK —Leon Edwards had never been knocked out in his professional career until he ran into Carlos Prates. On the UFC 322 main card Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) rebounded from a frustrating opening round to score a stunning second-round knockout over Edwards (22-6 MMA, 14-5 UFC). The stoppage came at 1:28 of Round 2 after a perfectly timed straight left hand sent the former champion crashing to the canvas.

In Round 1, Edwards executed a smart, if unspectacular, gameplan. He smothered Prates with clinches and control, slowing the pace and frustrating the Brazilian striker while the more violence-hungry fans in the arena grew restless. But early in Round 2, everything changed.

CARLOS PRATES KNOCKS OUT LEON EDWARDS

Image | Source: Dice City Sports

HEADSHOT DEAD #UFC322 #MMA pic.twitter.com/b8GHFkS4xc
— Onicx

Image | Source: Dice City Sports
(@YuhOnicx) November 16, 2025

The End Came Quick For Edwards

Prates finally found the space he needed and uncorked a clean, straight left that dropped Edwards hard. One follow-up shot arguably unnecessary given how badly Edwards was hurt sealed the deal and handed Edwards the first knockout loss of his career.

After the fight, Prates used the moment to call for a shot at UFC gold. The title picture at welterweight remains unclear. Especially with UFC 322 headlined by a divisional title bout between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, but Prates has now won two straight since his loss to Ian Machado Garry and firmly reinserted himself into the conversation.

For Edwards, 34, the defeat marks a brutal third straight loss, following setbacks against Belal Muhammad and Sean Brady. Once the dominant force at 170 pounds, he now finds himself in unfamiliar territory on the outside of the title picture, looking in.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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