Leon Edwards Faces Crossroads Against Carlos Prates at UFC 322: Rivalries, Comebacks, and the Road to Redemption

Leon Edwards at a Turning Point: UFC 322 and the Challenge of Carlos Prates

For Leon Edwards, the stakes at UFC 322 go far beyond a single fight. On Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, the former welterweight champion faces Brazil’s Carlos Prates—a surging knockout artist who sees Edwards not as a legend, but as a stepping stone to the title. The bout is a collision of styles, histories, and aspirations, set against the backdrop of a division in flux.

Edwards’s journey to this moment is marked by both triumph and recent turbulence. In 2022, he stunned the MMA world with a head-kick knockout of Kamaru Usman, capturing the welterweight crown. But championship glory proved fleeting; Edwards lost the belt and now finds himself on a two-fight skid—the first time in his career he’s suffered consecutive defeats, with the latest coming via submission to Sean Brady in March. The question looming over UFC 322: Can Edwards rediscover the competitive edge that once made him champion?

Carlos Prates: Hungry Challenger or Heir Apparent?

Across the cage, Carlos Prates embodies the ambition and bravado typical of a contender on the rise. The 32-year-old Brazilian arrives at Madison Square Garden riding high off a spectacular spinning back-elbow knockout of Geoff Neal at UFC 319, a finish that re-established his credentials after a tough loss to Ian Machado Garry.

Prates’s confidence is palpable. He’s made it clear: he believes Edwards has lost his fire since relinquishing the title. “We cannot teach heart,” Prates remarked during media day, suggesting that Edwards now fights to survive rather than to win. The Brazilian plans to put that theory to the test, promising to create adversity inside the octagon and expose any cracks in Edwards’s resolve.

With five UFC victories—all by knockout—Prates has built a reputation as an entertainer. He insists fans crave violence and drama over cautious, tactical battles. A decisive finish, he says, will catapult him into title contention and could even see him calling for a shot just minutes after the fight.

Edwards’s Response: Rivalries and Rebuilding

Yet Edwards’s narrative is more complex than a simple comeback story. The British fighter’s path has been shadowed by a simmering rivalry with Ian Machado Garry, his former Team Renegade teammate. Their split was messy and public. Garry claims he was pushed out due to “insecurities and doubts” from Edwards and his coach, while the camp suggested Garry didn’t fit the team’s culture. Their exchanges since have been pointed, with Edwards dismissing Garry’s achievements and Garry openly rooting for Prates to “knock Edwards unconscious.”

This personal feud adds another layer to the stakes at UFC 322. Both men are in the mix for future title opportunities, but neither seems eager for a direct clash unless circumstances force it. Edwards, ranked higher and with a tougher resume, sees little to gain from fighting Garry at this moment; a loss would further derail his path back to contention.

Meanwhile, Garry is scheduled to fight Belal Muhammad in Qatar—a bout with major implications for the division. Depending on the outcomes, the welterweight landscape could shift dramatically, with new challengers emerging and old rivalries reigniting.

The Welterweight Division: A Crowded Field and Uncertain Futures

UFC 322 is more than just Edwards versus Prates. The event also features Jack Della Maddalena defending his title against Islam Makhachev, a fight that could reshape the top of the division. Between November 15 and 22, several high-profile welterweights will clash, each hoping to position themselves for a shot at the belt.

Prates is betting on excitement—his knockout-heavy style stands in contrast to the wrestling-focused approaches of other contenders. He argues that the UFC and fans reward finishers, not point-fighters. If Garry wins his bout in Qatar with a “boring” decision, Prates believes his own highlight-reel finish could leapfrog him into the title picture.

For Edwards, the challenge is different. He must prove, both to himself and the MMA community, that he still possesses the hunger and adaptability required of a champion. A win over Prates would halt his slide and perhaps restore some of the aura that followed his stunning title victory in 2022. A loss, however, would raise difficult questions about his future and legacy in the sport.

Motivation, Legacy, and the Human Element of Fighting

At the heart of this matchup is a more universal story—the struggle to maintain motivation in the face of setbacks. Prates’s public doubts about Edwards’s “heart” echo a common narrative in combat sports: can champions recapture the drive that fueled their rise? For Edwards, UFC 322 is about more than rankings or rivalries. It’s about reaffirming his identity as a fighter and showing he can still compete at the highest level.

The outcome will reverberate throughout the division. A resurgent Edwards could find himself back in the mix for marquee fights and another title run. A victorious Prates would cement his status as a must-watch contender, with a highlight finish likely to boost his profile and bargaining power.

The human drama—ambition, pride, and the ever-present fear of fading into obscurity—makes UFC 322 more than just another fight night. Madison Square Garden has seen legends made and broken; Edwards and Prates now step into that storied arena, each searching for their own defining moment.

Based on the facts, UFC 322 represents a crossroads for Leon Edwards—where technical skill alone may not be enough. The pressure to prove his competitive spirit, amid public doubts and divisional rivalries, means this bout could shape not only Edwards’s immediate future but his lasting legacy. For Carlos Prates, the fight is a chance to seize the spotlight, leveraging his explosive style against a former champion whose hunger is being questioned. The result will echo across the welterweight division, revealing who is truly ready for the next chapter.