The fan favourite slugger is coming again on UFC 308 card on the Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Geoff Neal is ready to face the previous UFC light-weight champion Rafael dos Anjos on October 26. Coming off two straight losses to the up-and-coming Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry, Geoff has a press release to make and an opponent to flatten, which guarantees one thing huge for the dwell crowd in The Emirates, and for us, sitting inside our homes, as nicely.
It’s a nice alternative to remind ourselves in regards to the absurd beating he placed on the then future belt holder at 170-pound weight class, Belal Muhammad. This conflict occurred on January 19, 2019, at Barclays Middle, taking the second struggle of the cardboard spot. Each had been unranked on the time, which is a loopy factor to consider, as they each are thought of seasoned veterans amongst in the present day’s welterweights; particularly Muhammad, who appeared to be making a declare for the title struggle for many years earlier than lastly getting it this August of this 12 months.
Geoff began a bit sluggish, as he was making reads for Belal’s awkward actions. From the second Neal discovered the perfect placement for his left hand on Muhammad’s nostril, the Palestinian appeared hesitant to go ahead and drain the opponent’s gasoline tank, like he did earlier than and would proceed to do after this contest. The takedown makes an attempt didn’t go so nicely for Muhammad both, as Neal’s sprawl made him learn the sponsor’s names on the canvas. The occasions Belal appeared to have a profitable entry, Geoff would both use a single arm to place all his weight on, that means technically staying off the bottom, or simply stand up fast sufficient to the place it didn’t even depend as a whole takedown. By the point the final bell rang, future champion appeared just like the horror film star, already within the make-up for the position.
30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 the scorecards learn all for Geoff Neal.
Since then – as you possibly can perceive – loads has modified. “Handz of Metal” would win his subsequent two fights towards Niko Worth and Mike Perry, lose to Magny and Thopmson, edge out a choice towards Santiago Ponzinibbio, after which take off a great decade of Vicente Luque’s life. After that, as already talked about, Neal acquired completed for the primary time within the UFC opposing Shavkat Rakhmonov, and misplaced a lackluster resolution to Ian Machado Garry.
Belal Muhammad, however, went all these years with out dropping as soon as. If not that bizarre ‘no contest’ of their first struggle with Leon Edwards, it will be ten victories in a row for the Palestinian.