Leon Edwards suffered a brutal knockout defeat at UFC 322 in New York, falling to Carlos Prates in the second round. The fight, held at Madison Square Garden, saw Edwards, who was already under pressure due to a two-fight losing streak, unable to recover after Prates landed a decisive straight left.
The first round had been a competitive affair, with Edwards utilizing effective grappling and landing strikes, even attempting a submission late in the round. However, Prates adjusted his approach in the second round, landing the clean knockout blow that ended the contest.
This victory marks a significant career moment for Carlos Prates, solidifying his contender status in the welterweight division. For Leon Edwards, the loss compounds his recent struggles and puts his standing among welterweight contenders in question.
Prior to this fight, Edwards had suffered a submission loss to Sean Brady and a decision defeat to Belal Muhammad. The knockout by Prates was particularly notable as it was the first time Edwards had been knocked out in his professional mixed martial arts career, leaving his future in the highly competitive welterweight division uncertain.
