'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB//aAAgBAQAAAAAlRv/EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/2gAIAQIQAAAAP//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQMQAAAAf//EAB4QAAICAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAEEAgMFEQASIROR/9oACAEBAAE/AFsmpU23NPEJ0ypVHkh3hKP0BIMfzmPwCziCzM2HISuqjYY13dYgkb0Brwc//8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACEf/aAAgBAgEBPwCphP/EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMR/9oACAEDAQE/ALGLMdn/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3. Geoff Neal vs. Niko Price (Welterweight)
A product of Dana White's Contender series, Geoff Neal's rise towards being on the fringes of the Welterweight division's top 15 has been truly remarkable.
Three wins on the trot and another W will take him closer to the top of the pack. Standing in his way is one of the most exciting fighters, stylistically, in the 170 lbs division - Niko Price.
Round 1: Both men gaged each other's movement. Price went for a superman punch but missed. Neal landed his first UFC takedown and Price found himself in a terrible position early in the fight. Price worked his way back to his feet but Neal showed good head control.
Neal continued with some good wrist control before they broke up the clinch. Price went for a combination. A front kick to the body by Price. Neal answered with a left hand. Neal connected with a straight left. Price went for a takedown but Neal stuffed it and got the underhooks against the cage.
Neal came in with a right hand but got stunned with an incoming left hand infused with a headbutt from Price. Neal was hurt as he got flattened.
Price got on top of Neal and tried to cut his breathing. Elbows and short punches from the top as Neal tried to cut the distance. Both men got back up to their feet with Neal landing a takedown near the cage. Neal got Price's back. Price flipped around as Neal ended the round on top of Price. That was great! 10-9 Neal
Round 2: Incredible start to the second round as Neal got in a few big shots in. This was the fight Price wanted, who came in swinging like a legit madman. Rights, lefts, spinning backfists, knees - Price was throwing. The crowd popped! Neal managed to escape the storm and took Price down to the mat in side control.
He almost got in a Von Flue choke but released the pressure from the neck. Neal transitioned to full guard and began hurting Price with monstrous shots from the top. Massive shots! Neal was relentless despite Price displaying unmatched resilience. It proved just too much as the referee had to step in and stop the fight.
Result: Geoff Neal def. Niko Price via TKO (Round 2, 2:39)
That was wild! Some may argue that it was an early stoppage but Neal looked dangerous and the decision seemed warranted in the end. Price's reaction after the stoppage should tell you everything about the man. He lives to entertain and it doesn't even matter if he loses doing so.
This was a proper fight that made Geoff Neal look like the real deal. Powerful hands, adept on the ground and the calmness to deal with pressure situations; the Handz of Steel is a force to reckon with in the Welterweight division.
