Picture this: a fighter on the edge of a career-defining abyss, staring down the possibility of three losses in a row that could shatter their legacy. That's the intense pressure Leon Edwards is under heading into UFC 322, and Kamaru Usman, having walked in those same shoes just months ago, knows the feeling all too well.
Usman gets it because he's lived it. Back in 2022 and 2023, he traded victories on the scorecards with Edwards in a couple of thrilling bouts, but then came the heartbreak—a sudden knockout defeat followed by a majority decision loss in their rematch, costing him his welterweight belt. Not one to back down, Usman jumped at a last-minute middleweight clash against Khamzat Chimaev, coming agonizingly close to victory only to fall short via another majority decision. But he roared back with a commanding performance against Joaquin Buckley in June, proving resilience pays off. Now, Edwards faces an eerily similar crossroads after surrendering his title to Belal Muhammad and getting submitted by Sean Brady in his following fight. This Saturday, Edwards steps in against Carlos Prates, desperate to halt a three-fight skid.
'It's a massive test for him,' Usman shared with MMA Fighting about Edwards' looming battle. 'Nobody wants to rack up that many defeats in a row, especially when they're getting overwhelmed like that. This matchup throws a new twist his way—going up against another elite striker. That's not typically where Leon's had issues, but it adds an extra layer of challenge.'
But here's where it gets controversial: Usman points out that even if Edwards wins, it might not erase the doubts from his recent struggles. Edwards got out-wrestled in those losses to Muhammad and Brady, so a victory over Prates, who is renowned for his explosive striking and devastating knockouts, doesn't automatically clear the air on his grappling weaknesses. And this is the part most people miss—Edwards is widely regarded as one of the top kickboxers ever in the welterweight ranks, but in mixed martial arts (MMA), where fights can shift to the ground in an instant, style matchups aren't always the deciding factor. When you're eyeing three straight losses, the stakes are sky-high, and Usman emphasizes that no one wants to be finished twice in those bouts.
While Edwards battles for redemption, the welterweight division is buzzing with action. At UFC 322, Sean Brady aims to capitalize on his triumph over Edwards by taking on unbeaten rising star Michael Morales, who'll face his toughest challenge yet. Then, in just a week at UFC Qatar, former champ Belal Muhammad clashes with Ian Machado Garry in a showdown that could reshape the leaderboard. Usman, ever the competitor, is campaigning for a shot at the winner of the UFC 322 main event featuring Jack Della Maddalena versus Islam Makhachev, believing these upcoming cards will bring much-needed clarity to the division's hierarchy.
'What a thrilling era for welterweights!' Usman exclaimed. 'So many exciting pairings, so many must-watch fights. These athletes are climbing fast, and right now, it's tough to pick a clear frontrunner. Take Shavkat Rakhmonov, for instance—he beat Prates, but is he ahead of Brady, Prates, or Garry? It's debatable. The same goes for Garry; can he be ranked above Morales or Brady? They're all clustered tightly, with Morales, Buckley, Brady, Garry, and Prates in the mix. It's exhilarating, and fingers crossed, after this weekend's events, some will stand out as elite while others drop a tier. These guys are just one or two wins from title contention, and I'm watching closely to see how it unfolds.'
What do you think, fans? Is Edwards' striking prowess enough to overcome his grappling gaps against Prates, or will this be another lesson in MMA's unpredictability? And in a division this stacked, who do you see emerging as the next big thing? Share your takes in the comments—do you agree with Usman on the bunched-up talent, or is there a hidden favorite here that's been overlooked? Let's debate!
