Dana White confirms Carlos Prates in Rio de Janeiro after brutal knockout at UFC 319

Carlos Prates is a prominent Brazilian fighter in the UFC. Photo: Instagram / Carlos Prates

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Carlos Prates returned to the UFC spotlight in style. In the early hours of this Sunday (17), the Brazilian starred in one of the most impactful moments of UFC 319 by knocking out Geoff Neal with a spectacular spinning elbow, one second before the end of the first round, in a duel valid for the welterweight division (up to 77,1 kg). The victory not only put him back on the winning track but also guaranteed him a place in the highly anticipated UFC Rio, scheduled for October 11, with Charles do Bronx as the main event of the card.

Immediately after his victory, still in the octagon, Carlos took advantage of his interview with Joe Rogan to make two public requests to Dana White: the performance bonus of the night and the chance to face former champion Leon Edwards in Brazil. The UFC president, who was watching the fight closely, nodded positively and confirmed the Brazilian's presence at the event, although he did not officially define the opponent.

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The fight between Prates and Neal started at a fast pace. The Brazilian took the center of the octagon and quickly began to undermine his opponent's stance with hard kicks to the front leg. Neal responded with strong close-range punches, showing aggression, but was unable to stop the "Nightmare's" momentum.

Prates cleverly switched up his strategy and began punishing the American with knees to the body, forcing the veteran to clinch and try to control the fight against the fence. After defending the takedown, the Brazilian spun with precision and landed a spectacular elbow, knocking Neal out at exactly 4:59 of the opening round.

The victory marks Prates' recovery after his loss to Ian Garry in April and could put him in contention for the Knockout of the Year award. Now, with his ticket stamped for UFC Rio, the Brazilian awaits the announcement of his next opponent and doesn't hide his desire to face Leon Edwards , former champion and still a top contender in the division.

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