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This would likely serve as the co-main event to Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev.
It’s shaping up to be a very important night for the UFC welterweight division to close out 2020.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto reports that a matchup between contenders Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal is targeted for the promotion’s 2020 finale on December 19th in Las Vegas. BJPenn.com’s Cole Shelton noted that this is likely to be the co-main event underneath Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev.
Thompson (15-4-1) has not competed yet this year, but he looked terrific in his most recent outing last November against Vicente Luque. The unanimous decision win for “Wonderboy” marked the end of his two-fight losing streak and kept him afloat in the title picture. Thompson has twice challenged for the belt, going 0-1-1 in his bouts with then champion Tyron Woodley.
Neal (13-2) is undefeated in the UFC and riding a seven-fight winning streak. His last bout came in December, when he stopped Mike Perry in the opening round. The Texas native had difficulty finding opponents this year, then a serious, life-threatening health scare put him in the hospital earlier this summer. Now that he has recovered, this is undoubtedly the major step up in competition he’s wanted and deserved.
Current UFC rankings have Wonderboy at #5 and Neal at #11.
Broadcast details for the UFC’s December 19th show are not yet known, but the card will take place at the APEX in Las Vegas.