Geoff Neal
Handz of Steel
USA
Flattened by Prates
Neal lost to Carlos Prates via KO (spinning back elbow) at 4:59 of Round 1 at UFC 319 on Saturday in Chicago, Illinois.
ANALYSIS
Neal seemingly had the right game plan against Prates, as he was intent on making the aggressive fighter feel uncomfortable in the Octagon. The Brazilian never seemed bothered by what came his way, though, even when Neal landed impactful shots. Instead, "Handz of Steel" attempted to nonchalantly walk into range near the end of Round 1 and was left wiggling his fingers on the mat as a result. As a fast, powerful striker, Neal has the tools to beat any fighter on the right night, but he wasn't a match for the creativity and athleticism of Prates on Saturday. He falls to 16-7-0 in professional MMA due to the loss.
Neal seemingly had the right game plan against Prates, as he was intent on making the aggressive fighter feel uncomfortable in the Octagon. The Brazilian never seemed bothered by what came his way, though, even when Neal landed impactful shots. Instead, "Handz of Steel" attempted to nonchalantly walk into range near the end of Round 1 and was left wiggling his fingers on the mat as a result. As a fast, powerful striker, Neal has the tools to beat any fighter on the right night, but he wasn't a match for the creativity and athleticism of Prates on Saturday. He falls to 16-7-0 in professional MMA due to the loss.
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Fight rebooked for UFC 319
Neal will face off against Carlos Prates at UFC 319 on Aug 16, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Neal has rebooked his bout against Carlos Prates for UFC 319 after their originally scheduled fight at UFC 314 was called off following Neal's elbow injury. The 34-year-old American currently boasts an 8-4 record during his seven-year UFC journey.
Neal has rebooked his bout against Carlos Prates for UFC 319 after their originally scheduled fight at UFC 314 was called off following Neal's elbow injury. The 34-year-old American currently boasts an 8-4 record during his seven-year UFC journey.
Won't fight at UFC 314
Neal won't fight in UFC 314 on April 12 after undergoing elbow surgery, Lynch On Sports reports.
ANALYSIS
Neal was expected to face Carlos Prates in a welterweight event this Saturday, but the fight is now off. Neal is expected to step into the Octagon at some point during the summer.
Neal was expected to face Carlos Prates in a welterweight event this Saturday, but the fight is now off. Neal is expected to step into the Octagon at some point during the summer.
Draws red-hot fighter
Neal will take on Carlos Prates in a welterweight matchup at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Once considered one of the division's top prospects, Neal hit a bit of a rough spot with a 2-4 run spanning from 2020 through early-2024. He bounced back with a first-round finish against veteran Rafael dos Anjos this past October, but he now draws a red-hot fighter in Prates who has one four consecutive fights by stoppage in the first two rounds and earned a post-fight bonus in each. Neal is a higher-volume striker by a slight margin, but he'll be on the short end of striking defense, statistically, in addition to being at a disadvantage in both height and reach.
Once considered one of the division's top prospects, Neal hit a bit of a rough spot with a 2-4 run spanning from 2020 through early-2024. He bounced back with a first-round finish against veteran Rafael dos Anjos this past October, but he now draws a red-hot fighter in Prates who has one four consecutive fights by stoppage in the first two rounds and earned a post-fight bonus in each. Neal is a higher-volume striker by a slight margin, but he'll be on the short end of striking defense, statistically, in addition to being at a disadvantage in both height and reach.
Snaps brief losing streak
Neal defeated Rafael dos Anjos via TKO (knee injury) at 1:30 of Round 1 at UFC 308 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
Neal looked great for a long as the fight lasted. He came out on fire, picking up a huge knockdown and an easy takedown. He almost certainly would have continued to beat up RDA, but a knee injury suffered by the latter ended the fight in an instant. It's not the way Geoff was hoping to win, but entering with back-to-back losses to Ian Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov on his resume, "Handz of Steel" needed a victory any way he could find one. The 34-year-old Texan improves his record to 3-2 in his past five bouts dating back to December 2021.
Neal looked great for a long as the fight lasted. He came out on fire, picking up a huge knockdown and an easy takedown. He almost certainly would have continued to beat up RDA, but a knee injury suffered by the latter ended the fight in an instant. It's not the way Geoff was hoping to win, but entering with back-to-back losses to Ian Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov on his resume, "Handz of Steel" needed a victory any way he could find one. The 34-year-old Texan improves his record to 3-2 in his past five bouts dating back to December 2021.
Slated to take on dos Anjos
Neal will face Rafael dos Anjos in a welterweight bout at UFC 308 on Oct. 26, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Neal is coming off two consecutive losses, the latest at the hands of Ian Machado Garry via split decision back in February. That's dropped his UFC record to 7-4-0, but he'll have a chance to get back into the win column against dos Anjos, who is also reeling from two straight losses. Neal's youth and reach, among other aspects, should give him a slight leg up here in late October.
Neal is coming off two consecutive losses, the latest at the hands of Ian Machado Garry via split decision back in February. That's dropped his UFC record to 7-4-0, but he'll have a chance to get back into the win column against dos Anjos, who is also reeling from two straight losses. Neal's youth and reach, among other aspects, should give him a slight leg up here in late October.