Tag: Geoff Neal

Video: ‘UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes’ press conference live stream replay

The entire stacked UFC 314 main card, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, will attend a Thursday press conference.

LAS VEGAS – The first UFC 314 press conference takes place Thursday, and you can watch a live stream of the event in the video above. The press conference takes place at Michelob Ultra Arena.

In advance of the loaded event, which takes place April 12 at Kaseya Center in Miami (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN/Disney+, ESPN+), a number of notable athletes, including [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who meet for the vacant featherweight title left behind by Ilia Topuria, in the main event.

Here’s what you need to know about the UFC 314 press conference.

What time does the UFC 314 press conference start?

The UFC 314 press conference starts at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

Who’s taking part in the UFC 314 press conference?

Ten fighters from the five main-card bouts are slated to participate in the UFC 314 press conference: Volkanovski, Lopes, [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag], [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag], [autotag]Yair Rodriguez[/autotag], [autotag]Patricio Freire[/autotag], [autotag]Bryce Mitchell[/autotag], [autotag]Jean Silva[/autotag], [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] and [autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag].

It’s unclear if UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] will oversee the UFC 314 pre-fight press conference.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.

Geoff Neal wanted Gilbert Burns, but will settle for one rising welterweight instead

Geoff Neal has responded to Carlos Prates’ callout.

[autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] has responded to [autotag]Carlos Prates[/autotag]’ callout.

Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) expressed interest in fighting Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) after knocking out Neil Magny in the UFC Fight Night 247 main event this past November.

Neal hasn’t competed since a quick TKO of former champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308, and picked Gilbert Burns as his ideal next opponent. But with Burns booked against Michael Morales April 12 at UFC 314, he changed his tune towards Prates.

“(Prates) doesn’t interest me just because I want to fight up in the rankings. But the way things are looking and how the division’s looking, the only person that would make sense to fight ahead of me in the rankings is probably Gilbert (Burns),” Neal told Middle Easy.

“I don’t see anybody else wanting to fight me or they’re just kind of like, ‘I just won my last fight,’ and my last fight was against somebody who isn’t even ranked in our division. So, it’s a tough one, but Gilbert is like my ideal fight that I want to get, but if push comes to shove, I’ll fight Carlos too. April, I want to fight either one of those dudes.”

As for Prates, he may not have the ranking Neal is looking for, but the Fortis MMA standout acknowledges that he’s a legit opponent.

“He’s solid, man, he has power,” Neal said. “He’s long, but styles make fights, and I have yet to see how he’s going to match up with my style because he’s not one of those fighters who’s going to long range and point fight. We’re going to get in there and we’re going to be throwing hands so, we’ll see how that goes.

“Everybody’s durable until they get hit real hard. I’ve finished multiple durable opponents. I’m not going to go into the cage holding onto my durability. I’m just trying not to get hit in the face. I will not rely on no durability. I’m just going to move my f*cking head, but we’ll see. I look at a lot of his fights, and I still believe I’m better than him.”

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Sayif Saud: Geoff Neal’s Belal Muhammad win ages well, deserves to fight up in rankings next

With a win over the current UFC welterweight champ, Fortis MMA’s coach Sayif Saud wants to see Geoff Neal get another push toward the top.

[autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] has been hovering around the top of the UFC’s welterweight rankings for a few years. Given the current landscape of the division, Fortis MMA head coach [autotag]Sayif Saud[/autotag] believes he’s just a couple of fights away from a title shot.

Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) made a lasting impression in his 2017 Dana White’s Contender Series performance. He was signed to the UFC and ripped off five straight wins. Included in that mix was a unanimous decision win over the current champion, Belal Muhammad.

“Geoff is an explosive guy; he knocks people out, he’s exciting,” Saud told MMA Junkie. “His win over Belal obviously ages well. It’s the last time Belal lost, and Belal fought good that night. Belal’s amazing. Geoff is just – when he’s on point, I don’t know if there’s anyone like him. Look, he’s had some unbelievable fights, and I would love to see him fight Gilbert (Burns) or fight Colby (Covington) or fight one of those other guys and get his shot.”

Since that initial burst through the division, Neal has produced mixed results against the top names at welterweight. However, simply looking at his record wouldn’t give you the full story. Neal dealt with serious health complications outside of the cage that nearly cost him much more than his career.

Saud believes Neal hasn’t been at his best in some of his most recent appearances that led to a 3-4 record since starting 5-0 in the UFC, but has still managed to give the toughest names on his schedule some incredibly tough battles.

“We saw his fight with Shavkat (Rakhmonov) – he was not healthy for that fight,” Saud said. “In hindsight, I look at that fight, and I’m like, man, that fight was life and death. The Ian Garry fight was super close, you know? And it was a weird fight. Not to take any credit away from him, it wasn’t like ‘wow.’ These are the two guys who just fought. Super close fight at the top, and the guy that’s the champ, he has a win over.

“So, I just feel like he’s very relevant in the division, but he’s gotta get a big win against one of those top guys, and one of those guys gotta give him a shot. Sean Brady’s trying to call those guys up in front, I would just, you know Geoff fought back a few times. I would like to see him fight up and just get one more shot at going for the gold. Belal won it at an older age with a lot of respect and hard work. I feel like I would just love to see Geoff get back up there.”

Neal’s last performance was a TKO win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308 in October. The win snapped a two-fight skid that included a Fight of the Night submission loss to Rakhmonov and a split decision loss to Ian Machado Garry. While he doesn’t have a fight on the books yet, Saud wants to see his fighter get another crack at fighting higher ranked opponents rather than getting suck always fighting guys looking to crack into the top of the division.

“I just want to see him at his best, and that’s exciting I think for everybody,” Saud said. “It’s not even, ‘He deserves a title shot.’ People say that, it’s like, man, once you lose, you fall back down on that totem pole. You gotta win. But if Geoff knocks two people out, people will want to see him fight for the title. He’s one of those guys that could do that.

“We’ll see what the UFC has. I would like to see him fight up since he just fought back. And then he could fight back as these young guys are coming in, (Carlos) Prates and all these killers – and I think those are good fights too. But he’ll never go anywhere if he’s always fighting the up and coming guy. He’s fought everybody. He’s fought Shavkat, he’s fought Ian Garry, he’s fought ‘Wonderboy,’ he’s fought Belal, Vicente – he’s really fought ’em all. He’s a guy I would like to see get a chance to go up.”

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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.

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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.