Geoff Neal – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Ian Machado Garry: I have ‘zero regrets’ making T-shirt with Geoff Neal’s mugshot

Ian Machado Garry says he doesn’t regret printing Geoff Neal’s mugshot on T-shirts.

IRVINE, Calif. – [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] has no regret about the infamous T-shirt he made with [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]’s mugshot.

While some suggested Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) went too far with his antics, the Irishman insists he was well within the normal boundaries of trash talk and has no regret for his actions.

Garry and Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC), who fight this Saturday at UFC 298, were originally supposed to fight in August at UFC 292. However, Neal withdrew from the fight a few weeks prior and Garry went on to fight and beat late replacement Neil Magny.

Weeks before the cancellation, Garry posted a photo wearing a T-shirt with Neal’s mugshot from a 2021 DUI.

“The T-shirt was a f*cking laugh, and it worked,” Garry said at Wednesday’s UFC 298 media day. “He didn’t show up, and I believe he was pissed for that first fight and didn’t show up because of the T-shirt.

“Look, I have zero regrets for making that T-shirt. It was funny. The truth is that no one knew who Geoff was. No one knew the fight was booked until I made the T-shirt, and then everybody started talking about it. We’re in the fight game, and we’re trying to sell fights and entertain. After that point, everybody knew about it. Before that, no one knew.”

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Garry enters this weekend’s event full of confidence. He believes he will outclass Neal and get close to his dream of becoming UFC welterweight champion.

“I feel like, look, Geoff is a phenomenal fighter,” Garry said. “He’s tough, he’s durable, and he’s been in the game for a while and fought the best guys in the world. However, I don’t believe anyone is as fast as me or as technical as I am or has as much in the arsenal as I do.

“For me, it’s just a matter of time until he makes a mistake. I expect Geoff to be tough and be there for all 15 minutes, unless I do my job well and I make him make that mistake.”

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

Geoff Neal not motivated by Ian Machado Garry’s past antics: UFC 298 ‘fight is about me’

Geoff Neal is solely focused on achieving his goal of becoming a UFC champion, and Ian Machado Garry is “just another body” in the way.

IRVINE, Calif. – Despite his opponent’s past antics, [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] is solely focused on the task at hand, which will ultimately lead him closer to his career goal of becoming UFC champion.

After their first booking fell apart in August at UFC 292, Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will meet Ian Machado Garry on the main card of UFC 298 at Honda Center in Anaheim. The first time around, Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) wore a t-shirt with Neal’s mugshot, which rubbed some fans the wrong way. Despite Garry’s attempts to get under his skin, Neal doesn’t find any added motivation from the things his opponent has done in the past.

“It’s motivation no matter what,” Neal told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “Ian Garry aside, this fight is not about Ian Garry. This fight is about me. I want to win, I want to be a champ, and he’s just in the way. It’s just another body.”

“… During fight week, I’m cold. I don’t have any emotion right now. I’m just going to hop in that cage and do what I do.”

Just making it to the cage to continue his fighting career has been an impressive feat in itself. Neal was on death’s door after dealing with COVID-19 and a serious case of sepsis in 2020 that led to a stay in the ICU. Health issues have prompted issues in the training room from time to time since then, but heading into his sixth fight since being hospitalized, Neal says he has made more changes to ensure his career longevity.

“I had to really just dial in and focus on the little things, the little details like my diet, my sleep,” Neal said. “I used to not take supplements. I’ve been taking supplements now. I’ve just been doing everything the right way, not just doing it how I used to do it.”

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Neal is looking to rebound from a Fight of the Night battle against Shavkat Rakhmonov 11 months ago at UFC 285. The submission loss halted Neal’s momentum of back-to-back wins against Santiago Ponzinibbio and Vicente Luque.

Now with another undefeated prospect in his path, he believes a win against Garry will put him in a great position to fight for the welterweight title by the end of 2024, which has been his career goal from the beginning.

“I don’t usually think too far ahead, but realistically, I win this fight in spectacular fashion, one or two more fights, and then the belt,” Neal said. “I could probably knock that out by the end of the year.

“… The main goal since the day I started and walked into the MMA gym with my coach, the goal was to be the UFC champ. I’m here, and I can smell it. I can taste it. That’s the goal.”

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

Video: UFC 298 media day interviews

Before UFC 298 on Saturday, the main card and prelim fighters are scheduled to speak to reporters at media day.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The UFC 298, which takes place at Honda Center with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+, goes down Saturday.

Before fight night arrives, though, notable athletes from the main card and preliminary are scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday at media day, and MMA Junkie will be on-site.

Check below for the archived videos of each media day.

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

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: Get up in your feelings, ’cause Geoff Neal’s luggage is all of us

On the third episode of UFC 298 “Embedded,” Geoff Neal arrives and shows off his lucky luggage – taped, but hangin’ in there.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

In the main event, UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) attempts another successful title defense, this time against [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC). Middleweight contenders [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (14-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC) face off in a long-awaited showdown in the co-main event.

Also on the card, a grudge match between [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) finally materializes after [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Merab Dvalishivili[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) jostle for position atop the bantamweight division.

The third episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Champ Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Ilia Topuria train in LA. Geoff Neal chats with former champions. Ian Machado Garry and Henry Cejudo check in; Paulo Costa gets in a sweat.”

Also see:

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

UFC 298 pre-event facts: Alexander Volkanovski can make history with post-KO title defense

The best facts and figures about UFC 298, which sees Alexander Volkanovski take on the rare task of a title defense after a knockout loss.

The octagon returns to Anaheim, Calif., for the first time in more than two years and ninth time in its history on Saturday with UFC 298, which goes down at Honda Center with a main card on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

An anticipated featherweight championship bout gets top billing. Champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) returns to the division he rules following a knockout loss to lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev in October when he takes on unbeaten contender [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 298.

Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: ‘This old man’s still going, trust me.’

In the second episode of UFC 298 “Embedded,” champ Alexander Volkanovski promises to prove he’s still got it against Ilia Topuria.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

The second episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Ian Machado Garry and Paulo Costa land in LA. Merab Dvalishvilli spars and takes in the Super Bowl with friends. Champ Alexander Volkanovski hits the mats. Ilia Topuria trains with his brother; Robert Whittaker heads to Beneil Dariush’s gym.”

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

UFC 298 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Ian Machado Garry, Charles Oliveira bring in the birds

In the first episode of UFC 298 “Embedded,” Ian Machado Garry and Charles Oliveira play with birds in Brazil.

The UFC is back for its second pay-per-view of 2024, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

“Ian Machado Garry trains with Charles Oliveira. Robert Whittaker games with his dad. Ilia Topuria and Merab Dvalishvilli wrap up camps in Vegas. Champ Alexander Volkanovski arrives in LA.”

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

Ian Machado Garry ahead of Geoff Neal fight at UFC 298: ‘I am going to make him quit’

Ian Machado Garry plans on making Geoff Neal wilt.

[autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] plans on making [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] wilt.

Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) meets Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, Calif.

Fresh off a dominant win over veteran Neil Magny this past August at UFC 292, Garry will look to mirror that performance against the dangerous Neal.

“What am I going to finish him with? I am going to make him quit,” Garry said in an Instagram post. “He’ll choose when he’s done. I’d like to kick him to the body and have him do that, when the dog’s sh*tting – the look when the dogs look at you, like, when they’re pooing, for protection. That’s what they do, right? Look at their owners when they’re pooing because that’s when they’re vulnerable for attack?”

Garry was scheduled to face Neal at UFC 292, but ended up facing Magny instead after Neal withdrew. Neal hasn’t competed since a submission loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 285. Prior to that, “Handz of Steel” picked up back-to-back wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio and a knockout of Vicente Luque. He’s also the most recent fighter to beat Belal Muhammad, who’s unbeaten in his past 10 fights.

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

Geoff Neal on training hopes with Sean Strickland – and a DM about Ian Machado Garry

It appears Geoff Neal may have found an ally in Sean Strickland.

It appears [autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] may have found an ally in [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag].

Strickland ripped Ian Machado Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) for sporting a T-shirt with Neal’s mugshot on it when the pair originally was scheduled to fight this past August at UFC 292. Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) withdrew and was replaced by Neil Magny, whom Garry dominated.

Neal and Garry have been rebooked for UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, Calif. Neal said former middleweight champion Strickland reached out to him about Garry.

“He just asked if it was OK if he posted his mugshot with mine, and I was like, ‘I don’t care,'” Neal said in an interview with Fanatics View. “We talked recently. I’ve hit him up after a few of his fights. (I) wanted to go train with him because I see his sparring videos and I like the way he spars, and I do one day want to get in there and mix it up with him and train with him.”

Despite the backlash, Garry’s antics haven’t stopped. He’s still selling merchandise with Neal’s mugshot on it, as well as taunting him about his struggles with COVID. However, Neal isn’t interested in going back-and-forth with the brash rising star.

“I’m not going to engage in too much trash talk,” Neal said. “I’ve never been that type of person, but it’s entertaining, him talking sh*t. But the fans (have) got my back on this one. I don’t got to say sh*t anymore.”

Trash talk aside, Neal sees Garry as a formidable opponent.

“It’s two strikers going at it,” Neal said. “He’s real technical and rangy on the outside, so I’m just going to have to get in there and make it dirty, make it ugly, push the pressure, push the pace, test my COVID lung and see how much pace I can push on him.”

Neal’s power has wobbled the likes of top contender Belal Muhammad and Vicente Luque, and he expects to do the same to Garry.

“I feel like I’m going to take him out in the second round … second round, maybe early third round,” Neal said. “… It’ll be satisfying for sure, but I feel like it’s the perfect fight for me for right now. He has a big name and he has a lot of hate, but hopefully I can get some more clout, I guess you can say.”

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

UFC free fight: Geoff Neal viciously knocks out Vicente Luque with nasty combination

Watch Geoff Neal’s vicious knockout win over Vicente Luque.

[autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag] has picked up many impressive wins throughout his UFC tenure, and that includes his victory over Vicente Luque.

In August 2022, Neal picked up arguably his best career win when he put away Luque in brutal fashion. The two went toe to toe for the majority of the fight, and in the third round, Neal backed Luque up and put him away with a vicious combination. It was a big win for Neal that got him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

You can watch Neal’s knockout win in the video above.

Neal (15-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) next is booked in a welterweight bout against Ian Machado Garry (13-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) at UFC 298 on Feb. 17 in Anaheim, Calif. The two originally were scheduled to fight this past August at UFC 292, but Neal had to pull out.

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