UFC 319 shifted into high gear, beginning with flyweight contender Elliott pulling off an upset against Japanese star Kai Asakura, who is still chasing his first win in Dana White & Co. However, the night’s most electrifying moment came later, in the welterweight clash between Carlos Prates and Geoff Neal.

After a setback against Irishman Ian Garry, Fighting Nerds prospect ‘The Nightmare’ finally returned to the win column, determined not to let his previous loss define his narrative. As the fight unfolded in front of a roaring crowd at Chicago’s United Center, Carlos Prates made a statement. At 4:59 of the opening round, he landed a spinning back elbow that put the #11-ranked Neal to sleep—a knockout so thunderous it sounded like a golf ball being struck by a club, as senior journalist A

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