Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight finishers Geoff Neal and Nike Price will battle this Saturday (July 27, 2019) from inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Neal made his Octagon debut in 2018 on the heels of a strong performance on “Contender Series,” and in just three fights he’s made an immediate impact. The 170-pound division is a difficult one to stand out in, but Neal has done just that thanks to his stellar kickboxing. Price has made a name for himself, though his claim to fame is being an absolute wild man. Price is one of the most dangerous men on the roster, able to force a sudden knockout out of thin air and win fights he was previously losing.
Let’s take a closer look at the keys to victory for each man:
Geoff Neal
Record: 11-2
Key Wins: Belal Muhammed (UFC Fight Night 141), Frank Camacho (UFC 228), Brian Camozzi (UFC Fight Night 126)
Key Losses: Kevin Holland (Xtreme Knockout 34)
Keys to Victory: Neal is a sniper of a kickboxer. A Southpaw with great range and power, Neal makes excellent use of the classic leftie double threat: the powerful left kick and cross. More than most, Neal excels at timing his cross as his opponent moves forward, running them into the blow.
Neal is the more technical striker here, and he hits plenty hard. Price is not particularly difficult to hit. All of that sounds like it adds up to an easy win for the Texan, but Price is ridiculously dangerous anyway.
Remaining technical and not getting excited at the sight of blood will be a huge key to victory for Neal. If he clips Price and steps into the pocket with too much confidence, he’s likely to be put down hard. Neal would be much better off keeping the fight slow, and building toward a finish via build up of hard shots rather than the single knockout blow.
Nike Price
Record: 13-2 (1)
Key Wins: Tim Means (UFC Fight Night 146), Randy Brown (UFC Fight Night 133), Alan Jouban (UFC Fight Night 114)
Key Losses: Vicente Luque (UFC Fight Night 119), Abdul Razak Alhassan (UFC 228)
Keys to Victory: Price is a dangerous, dangerous man. Thirteen of his 14 professional fights ended inside the distance, and “The Hybrid” has a true gift for land heavy blows at odd moments of the fight.
In all likelihood, this is another fight where Price will be forced to rely on his ability to land a huge shot to pull himself out of a hole. Neal is technically sharper on the feet and will likely be able to stop the takedown, which puts Price in a bad position (at least until that one-hitter quitter finds a home).
Aside from the potential for a sudden knockout, Price does have the advantage of being slightly taller and longer than Neal — an advantage Neal usually makes great use of. As such, Price should have an easier time surprising Neal with punches from range, particularly if he works a shifting punch or two into his combination like he did opposite Jouban.
Bottom Line: This is a certified BANGFEST!
Neal seems very much like the real deal, a top-notch Welterweight entering his prime and building momentum as he tears his way through the middle of the division. Thus far, his performances have been excellent, but he faces a new test here: someone who can likely match his athleticism and knockout power. Neal will really be forced to rely on his skill and walk a thin line to avoid getting blasted.
If he can manage it, it’s a great sign for his future.
As for Price, he’s established himself as a must-watch action fighter, but the 29-year-old has yet to break into the rankings. While this win alone is unlikely to completely change that situation, Neal has quite a bit of hype behind them and this is on the main card of a pay-per-view (PPV) event. If Price scores another dramatic finish, he may find himself in the cage with a ranked foe next.
At UFC 240, Geoff Neal and Nike Price will square off. Which fighter will remain standing when the dust settles?