Carlos Prates Flattens Leon Edwards With Shocking Second Round KO at UFC 322

© Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesLeon Edwards had never been knocked out in his professional career until he ran into Carlos Prates. On the UFC 322 main card Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) rebounded from a frustrating opening round to score a stunning second-round knockout over Edwards (22-6 MMA, 14-5 UFC). The stoppage came at 1:28 of Round 2 after a perfectly timed straight left hand sent the former champion crashing to the canvas.

In Round 1, Edwards executed a smart, if unspectacular, gameplan. He smothered Prates with clinches and control, slowing the pace and frustrating the Brazilian striker while the more violence-hungry fans in the arena grew restless. But…