Tag: Geoff Neal

Geoff Neal: UFC title path inevitable, but could be quicker if Belal Muhammad stays champ

Who is the last man to defeat Belal Muhammad? That’s Geoff Neal, of course.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] stepped into the cage Saturday at UFC 308 and left with a win, but felt like he didn’t even fight.

In his welterweight prelim, Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) defeated former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos (32-17 MMA, 21-15 UFC) by first-round TKO due to knee injury. Neal was only hit twice.

“RDA is a legend, and I wish there would’ve been more a fight – especially because I wanted a bonus, too,” Neal told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I wish it was a little bit more. But it is what it is. Hopefully he heals up and comes back. It sucks to see a legend go out like that. … My leg is a little sore, but I want to get back in there. I’m trying to get back in there by December or January or February. I’m right back in the lab after this.”

Neal, 34, snapped a two-fight skid with the win. His ascent up the ladder toward gold has restarted. Given the fact he’s the last person to beat current champion Belal Muhammad, a narrative is there that has not previously been. Neal defeated Muhammad by unanimous decision in January 2019.

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Could that expedite his journey to the top? Maybe, admits Neal, though he thinks he’ll reach the end location regardless of the duration it takes to get there.

“Honestly, I feel like I’m going to get there no matter what,” Neal said. “But I think it will go quicker if Belal does keep the belt.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Ilia Topuria’s $42,000 leads card

Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway combined for $74,000 of the Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay for UFC 308.

ABU DHABI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 308 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $252,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 308 took place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+

The full UFC 308 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Lerone Murphy[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Dan Ige[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Armen Petrosyan[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ibo Aslan[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Rafael Cerqueira[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Mateusz Rebecki[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Myktybek Orolbai[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Abus Magomedov[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Brunno Ferreira[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Chris Barnett[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Farid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Victor Hugo[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Ismail Naurdiev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Rinat Fakhretdinov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,896,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $29,633,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC 308 results: Rafael dos Anjos injures left knee, Geoff Neal wins by Round 1 TKO

Geoff Neal looked good early before Rafael dos Anjos went down with an injury at UFC 308.

[autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] looked good early before [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] went down with an injury at UFC 308.

Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) hurt dos Anjos (32-17 MMA, 21-15 UFC) on the feet, before the former lightweight champion buckled his left knee, which prompted the referee to stop the fight at the 1:30 mark of Round 1. The welterweight bout was part of the UFC 308 prelims at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Neal stalked dos Anjos early, dropping him with a overhand left less than a minute into Round 1. Dos Anjos survived, but was taken down by Neal, who decided to let him back up. A few moments later, dos Anjos went down after he appeared to injure his left knee. The fight was ruled a TKO win for Neal.

https://twitter.com/UFCEurope/status/1850226027525517511

Neal picked up his first win in over two years. He was on a two-fight losing skid after back-to-back losses to Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 308 results include:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Geoff Neal def. Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308: Best photos from Abu Dhabi

Check out the best photos from Geoff Neal’s first-round TKO win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]’s first-round TKO win over [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] at UFC 308 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. (Photos by Craig Kidwell, special to MMA Junkie; MMA Junkie; UFC)

UFC 298 medical suspensions: Henry Cejudo among 9 fighters suspended 180 days

Nine UFC 298 competitors are out a potential 180 days due to injuries sustained in their fights Saturday in Anaheim, Calif.

Saturday’s UFC pay-per-view event in Anaheim, Calif. was not a good night to be a limb.

UFC 298 took place at Anaheim, Calif. and featured 12 bouts and 24 fighters. Nine of those fighters were handed six-month suspensions as a result of injuries sustained in their bouts. Eight of those potential injuries were deemed possible fractures.

Monday, California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster, who oversaw the event, provided MMA Junkie with a full list of medical suspensions.

Scroll below to see how much time UFC 298 competitors will have to take off as a result of their bouts Saturday. It’s important to note fighters may return before the conclusion of their suspensions if they are cleared by a physician (unless denoted “no exception” or “mandatory”).

UFC 298 post-event facts: Ilia Topuria makes history with title coronation

The best facts to come out of UFC 298, which saw a number of historic feats, including Ilia Topuria’s title KO of Alexander Volkanovski.

The UFC’s second pay-per-view of 2024 was a memorable one, with UFC 298 on Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., seeing a changing of the guard in the featherweight division.

In the main event, [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) became the new featherweight champion when he delivered on his promise to knock out longtime titleholder [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), which he did in the second round of their fight to claim gold.

For more on the numbers to come out of the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 298.

UFC 298 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Alexander Volkanovski’s $42,000 tops card

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 298 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $252,000.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 298 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $243,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 298 took place at Honda Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The full UFC 298 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag]: $32,000
def. [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Amanda Lemos[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Mackenzie Dern[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Marcos Rogerio de Lima[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Junior Tafa[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Rinya Nakamura[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Carlos Vera[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Zhang Mingyang[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Brendson Ribeiro[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Danny Barlow[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josh Quinlan[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Oban Elliott[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Val Woodburn[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Miranda Maverick[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Andrea Lee[/autotag]: $11,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,093,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $23,800,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

UFC 298 results: Ian Machado Garry outstrikes Geoff Neal, calls out Colby Covington

Ian Machado Garry made the haters even madder at UFC 298 when he won a split decision over Geoff Neal and grabbed the mic.

It wasn’t the nasty grudge match with a massive knockout finish some fight fans may have been expecting, but [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] won his fight over [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] with a display of technical striking.

The welterweight bout was part of the UFC 298 main card at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and saw Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) defeat Neal (15-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27).

Garry took a measured, disciplined approach. Most of his success came from technical striking, as he circled away from Neal, who struggled to find his rhythm.

While Neal found isolated time pockets of success, and could’ve understandably won the fight 29-28, according to judge Derek Cleary, it wasn’t enough to get the majority on his side.

After the decision, Garry was booed – and he encouraged that booing, which resulted in even more boos. During his time on the microphone with Joe Rogan, Garry called out former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington.

“I want to retire you from the UFC, Colby,” Garry said.

The bout between Garry and Neal was initially scheduled for August, but fell through due to an injury to Neal. In the meantime, heat was lit under the matchup as Garry sported a t-shirt with Neal’s mug shot on it. Garry also posted a video of his reaction to Neal’s withdrawal that indicated he thought Neal was faking.

Despite the nasty build, both fighters remained largely respectful during fight week and high-fived numerous times in the bout. Afterward, Garry and Neal shook hands and embraced.

Garry maintains a perfect promotional and career record with what’s widely regarded as his biggest win to date. Other notable UFC wins to date include Neil Magny and Daniel Rodriguez.

A brash trash-talker who oozes confidence, Garry encountered a tremendous amount of negativity in response to his attitude, as well as rumors about his personal life and the use of his wife’s mother’s last name.

Neal falls into a two-fight skid and has now lost four of his most recent six bouts, though all of those defeats have come vs. ranked competition.

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Up-to-the-minute UFC 298 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.

Social media to Ian Machado Garry’s debatable decision win over Geoff Neal at UFC 298

The MMA community reacted to Ian Machado Garry staying unbeaten with a controversial victory against Geoff Neal at UFC 298.

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] continues to deliver the results inside the octagon after getting through his toughest test to date in [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] on Saturday at UFC 298.

Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) added to his undefeated professional record when he defeated Neal (15-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) by split decision in their welterweight matchup, which took place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Garry’s victory over Neal at UFC 298.

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Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal at UFC 298: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Ian Machado Garry’s split decision win over Geoff Neal at UFC 298.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag]’s split decision win over [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] at UFC 298 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (Fight and venue photos by Gary A. Vasquez, USA Today Sports)