Geoff Neal thinks there’s “no denying” him as a welterweight contender if he can beat Stephen Thompson at UFC Fight Night 183.
Unbeaten in his first five UFC bouts, Neal (13-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) looks to put a signature win on his resume when he takes the main event stage for the first time against perennial contender Thompson (15-4-1 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC) on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Although Gilbert Burns sits atop the queue for 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman, Neal is confident that a win would put him firmly in the conversation to get a match for the belt.
“I might have to get one more fight after I beat him,” Neal told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Thursday’s UFC Fight Night 183 virtual media day. “Depending on what I do, if I do a spinning backward tornado kick and knock him out, I’ll definitely get a title shot. I think even if it’s a really good fight – I’m thinking I’ll need to win one more and get a title shot. That’s my plan.”
Even if Neal wins in spectacular fashion, there’s certain to be some critics that will argue Thompson, 37, is on the tail end of his career and beating “Wonderboy” isn’t quite as significant as it once was.
Neal said he disagrees. Thompson is No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings and still very much dangerous. No. 11 Neal says a win is still a huge accomplishment.
“People talk about his age, he’s 37, but he’s still in his prime,” Neal said. “If I get a good win over him that’ll prove me as a real title contender.”
So far, Neal has said all the right things leading into his UFC main event debut. He’s human, though, and the weight of the moment is definitely coming down on his shoulders.
That weight will only get heavier as Neal continues his career, and he said it’s on him to prove he can handle it leading into this particular fight night.
“There is pressure if I’m being honest,” Neal said. “But I don’t let the pressure get to me. I just know I need to go there and fight to the best of my ability. If it’s not enough then it’s not enough, and I’ve got to go back in the gym and keep working.”
