Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards is set to square off against Brazilian striker Carlos Prates at UFC 322 on Saturday at the iconic Madison Square Garden, in a pivotal bout that could determine the trajectory of Edwards’ career after suffering the first back-to-back defeats of his professional MMA journey.

The tension between the two fighters has already escalated ahead of fight night, with Prates questioning whether Edwards still possesses the mental fortitude to compete at the highest level. “He’s done—you cannot teach heart,” Prates said during the pre-fight media tour. “If you give up one time, you will give up always. When things get hard, he starts to give up. He doesn’t do too many things to try and change the game. I want to see how he can fight with somebody who really tries to hurt him.”

Edwards, 34, responded calmly to the criticism, asserting his readiness to prove his doubters wrong. “He ain’t done nothing in the sport at all. On Saturday night I get to prove my case,” the Englishman said, emphasizing his determination to reclaim his place among the UFC’s elite.

The bout promises an intriguing stylistic clash. Having faced high-level grapplers such as Sean Brady, Belal Muhammad, and Colby Covington in his previous three fights, Edwards anticipates a stand-up striking battle with Prates, who boasts 17 knockouts in 22 career wins. “He’s the first striker I’ve fought in four years. It’s exciting. When you fight a striker, you can flow a bit more. It’s a good opponent to get back to where I left off,” Edwards explained. “Skill for skill, I’m the better fighter, the better athlete. I will remind him of who I am.”

Edwards also revealed a three-fight plan aimed at returning to title contention: defeating Prates at UFC 322, competing at UFC London in March 2026, and potentially securing another title shot in the summer.

UFC 322 features a stacked fight card, headlined by two championship bouts. Islam Makhachev moves up to welterweight to challenge reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena, while Valentina Shevchenko defends her flyweight crown against Zhang Weili, who is attempting to become a two-division UFC champion. All fighters successfully made weight on Friday, setting the stage for an action-packed night of fights.

Main Card – UFC 322:

• Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs Islam Makhachev – UFC Welterweight Title
• Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs Zhang Weili – UFC Flyweight Title
• Sean Brady vs Michael Morales – Welterweight
• Leon Edwards vs Carlos Prates – Welterweight
• Beneil Dariush vs Benoit Saint-Denis – Lightweight

With a combination of title bouts and key welterweight matchups, UFC 322 promises to be a landmark event in 2025’s MMA calendar. Fans will be watching closely to see if Edwards can silence his critics, reclaim his momentum, and plot a path back to the UFC championship.