Geoff Neal has been hovering across the prime of the UFC’s welterweight rankings for a couple of years. Given the present panorama of the division, Fortis MMA head coach Sayif Saud believes he’s simply a few fights away from a title shot.
Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) made an enduring impression in his 2017 Dana White’s Contender Collection efficiency. He was signed to the UFC and ripped off 5 straight wins. Included in that blend was a unanimous choice win over the present champion, Belal Muhammad.
“Geoff is an explosive man; he knocks folks out, he’s thrilling,” Saud instructed MMA Junkie. “His win over Belal clearly ages nicely. It’s the final time Belal misplaced, and Belal fought good that night time. Belal’s wonderful. Geoff is simply – when he’s on level, I don’t know if there’s anybody like him. Look, he’s had some unbelievable fights, and I’d like to see him battle Gilbert (Burns) or battle Colby (Covington) or battle a type of different guys and get his shot.”
Since that preliminary burst by the division, Neal has produced combined outcomes towards the highest names at welterweight. Nonetheless, merely taking a look at his report wouldn’t provide the full story. Neal handled severe well being problems exterior of the cage that almost price him far more than his profession.
Saud believes Neal hasn’t been at his finest in a few of his most up-to-date appearances that led to a 3-4 report since beginning 5-0 within the UFC, however has nonetheless managed to offer the hardest names on his schedule some extremely robust battles.
“We noticed his battle with Shavkat (Rakhmonov) – he was not wholesome for that battle,” Saud mentioned. “In hindsight, I have a look at that battle, and I’m like, man, that battle was life and demise. The Ian Garry battle was tremendous shut, you already know? And it was a bizarre battle. To not take any credit score away from him, it wasn’t like ‘wow.’ These are the 2 guys who simply fought. Tremendous shut battle on the prime, and the man that’s the champ, he has a win over.
“So, I simply really feel like he’s very related within the division, however he’s gotta get a giant win towards a type of prime guys, and a type of guys gotta give him a shot. Sean Brady’s making an attempt to name these guys up in entrance, I’d simply, you already know Geoff fought again a couple of occasions. I want to see him battle up and simply get another shot at going for the gold. Belal gained it at an older age with a variety of respect and arduous work. I really feel like I’d simply like to see Geoff get again up there.”
Neal’s final efficiency was a TKO win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308 in October. The win snapped a two-fight skid that included a Battle of the Evening submission loss to Rakhmonov and a break up choice loss to Ian Machado Garry. Whereas he doesn’t have a battle on the books but, Saud desires to see his fighter get one other crack at preventing greater ranked opponents moderately than getting suck all the time preventing guys trying to crack into the highest of the division.
“I simply need to see him at his finest, and that’s thrilling I feel for everyone,” Saud mentioned. “It’s not even, ‘He deserves a title shot.’ Individuals say that, it’s like, man, when you lose, you fall again down on that totem pole. You gotta win. But when Geoff knocks two folks out, folks will need to see him battle for the title. He’s a type of guys that would do this.
“We’ll see what the UFC has. I want to see him battle up since he simply fought again. After which he might battle again as these younger guys are coming in, (Carlos) Prates and all these killers – and I feel these are good fights too. However he’ll by no means go wherever if he’s all the time preventing the up and coming man. He’s fought all people. He’s fought Shavkat, he’s fought Ian Garry, he’s fought ‘Wonderboy,’ he’s fought Belal, Vicente – he’s actually fought ’em all. He’s a man I want to see get an opportunity to go up.”
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