Who says the fight begins only when the cage door closes? For MMA fans, the battle often starts long before the first punch lands. It becomes a contest of star power, drawing ability, and financial impact. That is exactly the story heading into UFC 322, where former welterweight champion Leon Edwards meets rising contender Carlos Prates on 15 November. Inside a packed Madison Square Garden, both men will leave everything behind in pursuit of victory. For ‘Rocky’, it is a climb back toward championship gold.

For Carlos Prates, it is an opportunity that reaches far deeper into the division, as stepping against a former champion brings weight, pressure, and immense hype. Yet before they even touch gloves, one question stands tall. Who has achieved more success? Who sits higher in the sport’s financial hierarchy? On one side is a proven champion. On the other, a surging newcomer ready to break through. With all that in mind, it is time to see who wins this financial showdown before the real fight begins.

Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates net worth & endorsements

Leon Edwards rose through the British MMA circuit and built a long, decorated career before setbacks slowed him down. His journey began around 2010 when he first stepped into amateur competition, and in that same year, he transitioned to the professional ranks. From then on, he pushed forward without looking back. Through every high and low, ‘Rocky’ kept his place in MMA history, most notably by ending Kamaru Usman’s long reign and becoming only the second British UFC champion after Michael Bisping.

The Brit has built strong financial success too, with his net worth estimated at around 2.5 million pounds, which crosses the 3 million dollar mark as of March 2025. Carlos Prates took a different path. He entered the fight game in 2012 and spent much of his prime on regional circuits, refining his craft by blending Brazilian Muay Thai with his natural striking talent. His major breakthrough arrived in 2023 when he earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series.

Since joining the elite stage, ‘The Nightmare’ has made his name through power and precision, finishing every UFC win by knockout and collecting multiple Performance of the Night bonuses. According to SurpriseSports, his net worth sits at around 700,000 dollars as of September 2021. On the endorsement front, Leon Edwards’ European popularity has helped him sign with major brands. He has deals with well-known menswear labels, along with partnerships with Venum, Monster Energy, Monterrey, MyProtein, and RDX Sports.

These collaborations play a huge role in boosting his income outside the cage. Carlos Prates keeps his approach more grounded. He works with sports apparel brands like Maximum Boxing, which produces his fight gear featuring his signature scorpion logo, and he promotes Vitalility Nutrition, a Brazilian supplement company. His endorsement portfolio stays lowkey by choice. As he put it, “I want to work with people who believed in me before the UFC camera did.”

Who earns more, Edwards or Prates? Career earnings

While Carlos Prates earned modestly in the regional circuits, Leon Edwards’ UFC career took off after he signed with Dana White’s organization in 2014, and his earnings reflected that rise. For his standout night against Kamaru Usman, ‘Rocky’ reportedly earned $432,000, which included a $350,000 base purse, a $50,000 performance bonus, and $32,000 from sponsorships.

That payday was the largest of his career at the time, until his rematch with Usman. Edwards’ trilogy bout at UFC 286 reportedly brought him $1,062,000, more than double his previous fight purse. However, his biggest payday came against Colby Covington, where he earned $3,142,000 for a dominant decision victory, bringing his total UFC earnings to over $8 million, though still below fighters like Islam Makhachev.

Carlos Prates, on the other hand, joined the UFC nearly a decade after Leon Edwards. In his debut against Trevin Giles, he earned a $12,000 base purse, a $12,000 win bonus, and a $50,000 performance bonus. His earnings grew over time, and earlier this year, his fight against Ian Garry carried a $250,000 base purse, despite the loss to the Irishman.

Now that you have a clear picture of the financial side of both Leon Edwards and Carlos Prates, it’s time to focus on the fight itself. Who do you think will come out on top at UFC 322? Share your prediction below.