Carlos Prates delivered a Knockout of the Year candidate at UFC 319.The welterweight contender brutally finished off Geoff Neal with a spinning back elbow to beat the buzzer at the 4:59 mark of the first round Saturday night in Chicago.

Geoff Neal immediately collapsed to the floor, where he remained for quite some time at UFC 319. Referee Jason Herzog was slammed for an early stoppage during another fight at the United Center in Chicago. Neal pretended to pile on the in-cage official when he first spoke about his tough night at the office.

Just before the end of the round, Prates landed a nice body shot and then he spun. His elbow cracked Neal on the top of the head and then he crashed to the canvas. The referee stopped the fight and Prates secured the massive knockout win at UFC 319.

Don't blink when Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates throw down at UFC 319. Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) square off in a three-round welterweight matchup on Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago ( ESPN+, ESPN, pay-per-view).

Jason Herzog was the referee for the welterweight bout and he stopped the contest right at the final bell of round 1, after Neal had been dropped by the elbow in the final two seconds. A former UFC fighter wonders if the stoppage was premature.

Carlos Prates is already set for his next fight after his spectacular win at UFC 319. On the main card, Prates and Geoff Neal, both known for their knockout power, engaged in a welterweight bout that,

With Neal forced out due to injury, Prates instead faced Ian Machado Garry at UFC Kansas City in April. Garry won a decision that night, and Prates found himself rebooked with Neal.