UFC welterweight contender Carlos Prates already has another fight booked after his highlight-reel win at UFC 319.
The UFC welterweight showdown between KO artists Carlos Prates and Geoff Neal was expected to provide fireworks on the UFC 319 main card. But few could expect what happened once Prates and Neal clashed inside the Octagon.
Prates and Neal fought in a long-awaited fight that was supposed to take place earlier this year, and it ended up being well worth the wait at UFC 319. Both welterweights are known for providing highlight-reel finishes inside the cage, including Prates, who entered UFC 319 looking to bounce back from his first promotional defeat.
Once the fight started, chaos ensued which provided one of the craziest knockouts of the year.
Carlos Prates entered the ‘KO of the Year’ debate with ridiculous spinning elbow at UFC 319
Prates and Neal wasted little time getting after it in the Octagon in Round 1, as both fighters landed heavy blows that visibly stunned their opponent. Neal opened up with an unorthodox approach of high volume leg kicks, before quickly transitioning to his boxing-heavy style.
But Prates was able to withstand Neal’s early barrage, landing a series of nasty body shots that slowed Neal down quickly. Prates found his timing midway through Round 1 with feints and weaving out of Neal’s advances.
As the seconds ticked down in Round 1, Prates threw a spinning back elbow that landed in the middle of Neal’s forehead, immediately knocking him unconscious and turning the United Center crowd into a frenzy.
Prates’ spinning elbow KO added to what’s been an eventful year for the finishing technique. Just days ago, middleweight Christian Leroy Duncan knocked out Eryk Anders with a spinning elbow at UFC Vegas 109.
After UFC 319, Prates was guaranteed a slot for a Brazilian homecoming on a card later this year by UFC CEO Dana White.
Dana White books Carlos Prates for next fight just minutes after stunning walkoff KO
Immediately after defeating Neal, White told Prates that they will find him a fight on the upcoming UFC Rio card, headlined by Charles Oliveira vs. Rafael Fiziev. Prates called for a clash with former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards at the event.
Prates entered UFC 319 after suffering his first promotional defeat to Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision at UFC Kansas City earlier this year. The loss snapped Prates’ 11-fight winning streak, featuring knockouts over Neil Magny, Li Jingliang, and Charles Radtke.
Neal returned to the Octagon for the first time since a first-round win over former UFC champ Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308 in October. He lost back-to-back fights to Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov before knocking out Dos Anjos.
Prates and Neal were supposed to square off at UFC 314 earlier this year before Neal withdrew due to injury. Prates was then rescheduled for the short-notice Garry main event fight while Neal recovered from his ailment.
Follow along here at Bloody Elbow for all the latest news and highlights from UFC 319.