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 a long-lasting 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 resolution win over the present champion, Belal Muhammad.
“Geoff is an explosive man; he knocks folks out, he’s thrilling,” Saud informed MMA Junkie. “His win over Belal clearly ages properly. It’s the final time Belal misplaced, and Belal fought good that night time. Belal’s superb. 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 might 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 way of the division, Neal has produced combined outcomes in opposition to the highest names at welterweight. Nevertheless, merely his report wouldn’t provide the full story. Neal handled critical well being issues outdoors of the cage that just about value him rather 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 powerful battles.
“We noticed his battle with Shavkat (Rakhmonov) – he was not wholesome for that battle,” Saud stated. “In hindsight, I take a look at that battle, and I’m like, man, that battle was life and dying. The Ian Garry battle was tremendous shut, you understand? 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 in opposition to 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 might simply, you understand Geoff fought again a couple of instances. I wish to see him battle up and simply get yet another shot at going for the gold. Belal received it at an older age with a number of respect and onerous work. I really feel like I might 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 Combat of the Night time submission loss to Rakhmonov and a break up resolution 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 combating increased ranked opponents slightly than getting suck all the time combating guys seeking to crack into the highest of the division.
“I simply wish to see him at his finest, and that’s thrilling I believe for everyone,” Saud stated. “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 wish 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 wish 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 believe these are good fights too. However he’ll by no means go anyplace if he’s all the time combating the up and coming man. He’s fought everyone. 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 wish to see get an opportunity to go up.”
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