Carlos Prates vs Leon Edwards fight prediction

Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards will face Carlos Prates on November 16th at a special event in New York City. "Rocky" is the gatekeeper in this bout, and bookmakers even consider him an underdog. So will the Brit survive this "Nightmare"?

• Carlos Prates vs Leon Edwards;
• Carlos Prates;
• Leon Edwards;
• Comparative analysis;
• Game Totals Prediction.

Carlos Prates vs Leon Edwards

Carlos Prates

Having returned to winning ways, Carlos climbed to No. 9 in the rankings. Prates has five UFC bonuses, is a former SFT champion, and has a black belt in jiu-jitsu to boot.

Ian Garry is the only one who has spoiled the Brazilian's statistics, because before that he won more than a dozen fights, and he managed to make up for this defeat with a bright finish in the fight with Neil.

Strengths

"The Nightmare" has a decent skill set: he's not lacking in ground game skills, but he emphasizes striking, where he excels in its versatility. He uses all his limbs, though he can sometimes get bogged down by a specific combination. Overall, he's a creative striker, with excellent reach for a 175-pound frame and impressive power.

Weaknesses

Garry demonstrated that footwork and counters can be used to push Prates back, disrupting his basic game plan. Yes, there are some flaws in his mid-fight reorganization, and the upcoming match could once again expose Carlos' tactical weaknesses.

The current form and readiness of the fighter

The 32-year-old athlete is determined to return to the title race with "Rocky," and given the latter's style, he has no right to a dull fight. Therefore, we expect him to be highly motivated, which will translate into a desire to dominate his opponent, as Prates certainly has plenty of passion for the sport.

Leon Edwards

Lyon's fortunes are dire, as he twice lost to Brady and Muhammad, and so he's naturally ranked fourth. Edwards was previously a BAMMA champion and defended his UFC belt a couple of times. Incidentally, he also holds a black belt in BJJ.

Before his losses, he had been winning for 6 years, adding to his list of defeats names of the caliber of Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, dos Anjos, Diaz and others.

Strengths

The Brit controls his range very well, thereby remaining out of reach for many strikers. He has a basic arsenal of kicks, but he uses them with precision and timing, and his jab constantly thwarts his opponents' attempts to close in. And that's not to mention the fact that Leon is also quite capable on the canvas.

Weaknesses

Edwards has serious motivational issues, as in his recent fights, he's been literally forced to do anything. He doesn't listen to his corner, monotonously performs his duties, and doesn't let his opponents do theirs. Simply put, he's a tough case.

The current form and readiness of the fighter

"Rocky" is already 34 years old, and UFC management no longer views him as a contender, gradually starting to push him toward young talent to filter out the "undesirables." Right now, Edwards must step up and make one last push if he wants to stay in the league. But his performances don't offer much hope for a spectacular comeback.

Comparative analysis

The former champion will have a reach disadvantage of about 10 cm, and it's worth noting that the fight has every chance of ending without a fight at all, or at least not right away. Carlos is more aggressive, more confident in his finishing skills, and will definitely try not to make any mistakes, but still get the finish if the opportunity arises.

Regardless, Leon is a strong defender, so beating him won't be easy. So, when choosing a favorite to bet on, don't forget about the no deposit bonus . After all, it's a competitive matchup. On paper, Prates has the motivation, aggression, harder punching power, and youth, while his opponent will try to offset this with experience.

Essentially, Carlos doesn't need to invent anything: Belal and Sean have shown what it takes to break "Rocky." But how does Leon plan to stop this train? Probably with a mix of short attacks, clinches, and takedown attempts. At the very least, he currently looks too weak compared to what the Brazilian is demonstrating.

Carlos Prates vs Leon Edwards Prediction

I don't want to rush things and write off the former champion, because could you find a more difficult opponent for Prates? Essentially, he's almost the same as Gerry (in terms of defensive quality), but more tenacious and standard.

Therefore, when betting with high odds bookmakers, it's worth keeping in mind a scenario where Leon simply grinds out this fight, taking it to a decision. And getting past his defense is quite a quest, so it's better to bet on the fight's length, not being fooled by Prates's aura of a finishing machine. Download 1xbet to your phone and place a bet on the favorite!

Prediction: Total Over (2.5) by round/3rd round will start – yes