Prates Beat the Bell With a Spinning Elbow
Carlos Prates knocked out Geoff Neal at 4:59 of the first round at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025. A spinning back elbow ended their welterweight contest at United Center in Chicago just one second before the scheduled break.
| Fighter | Geoff Neal | Carlos Prates |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 16-6 | 21-7 |
| Height | 5′11″ | 6′1″ |
| Reach | 75″ | 78″ |
| Striking Accuracy | 51% | 54% |
| Takedown Defense | 87% | 83% |
| UFC KO Wins | 8 | 4 |
Neal opened aggressively before Prates found his range
Neal began with sharp leg kicks and looked confident pursuing the Brazilian. Prates gradually found opportunities to answer, attacking the body with punches and adding a knee to the same target.
The forward pressure continued, but Prates increasingly made Neal pay for entering range. Their exchanges became less comfortable for the American as the opening round progressed.
A late exchange set up the decisive strike
Neal looked to bring the fight toward the mat near the end of the round. Prates answered with a one-two combination and remained ready to attack as the clock ran down.
The spinning back elbow landed immediately before the horn, dropping Neal and prompting referee Jason Herzog to intervene. The official result was a knockout, ending a matchup that had previously been postponed.
The rebooking gave Prates his rebound opportunity
The pair had originally been scheduled for UFC 314 before Neal withdrew through injury. Prates instead faced Ian Machado Garry in April and lost a decision, ending a lengthy winning streak.
Ahead of Chicago, Prates said he wanted to focus on winning rather than chasing bonuses or a particular finish. He achieved the result with a spectacular strike, returning to the win column against the opponent he had expected to face earlier in the year.
Sources
- Cageside Press: early exchanges, late combination and spinning finish
- UFC: August 16 venue and official knockout time
- Cageside Press: postponed booking, Garry loss and Prates’s media-day comments
