They call Geoff Neal “Handz of Steel” for good reason.

Neal looked to make it seven in a row when he faced the tough and durable Mike Perry at UFC 245 in Las Vegas last December.

In a battle between two strikers, the power difference was apparent as Neal made quick work of Perry who, at that point, had never been stopped due to strikes.

Just over a minute into the fight, Neal connected with a big head kick that rocked “Platinum.” Seeing the opening for a swift finish, Neal continued to pile on the pressure before eventually finishing his man with a barrage of strikes.

Neal (13-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) returns to action Saturday when he takes on former two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson (15-4-1 MMA, 10-4-1 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 183, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Before he faces Thompson, relive Neal’s finish of Perry in the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-free-fight-geoff-neal-mike-perry-ufc-245

For the first time in his career, Tony Ferguson is on a losing streak after being soundly defeated once again. But if you think the longtime UFC lightweight standout is finished, think again.

On Monday, Ferguson issued his first statement roughly 48 hours removed from a dominant performance by Charles Oliveira against him, en route to a unanimous decision loss at UFC 256. For “El Cucuy,” the result meant a second consecutive defeat after Justin Gaethje battered him before getting the TKO finish in the fifth round of their UFC interim title fight last May.

Prior to that, Ferguson (25-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) had been on an impressive 12-fight winning streak that lasted six years. And while a decline for the 36-year-old might appear evident based on these last two performances, Ferguson has no plan to slow down – or hang up his gloves.

“My search for that epic word called ‘greatness’ isn’t over,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram. “… We are far from being retired.”

At no point in the three-round fight with Oliveira was Ferguson ever in control, as indicated by 30-26 scores across the board. Ferguson didn’t want to make excuses but did acknowledge fight-week changes made things different.

“I felt flat. I went out and welcomed the attack instead of defend,” Ferguson said. “The warm-up time in the back for UFC hasn’t been the same since pre-COVID. Still no excuses. Times change and so do people.”

Oliveira, who pushed his winning streak to eight, was especially dominant in the grappling department against a veteran who prides himself on his ground game. Ferguson was saved by the bell in the first round as Oliveira locked in a deep armbar that bent Ferguson’s arm backward.

Ferguson, who indicated that his arm is “alright,” gave credit to Oliveira for his smooth jiu-jitsu display but vowed to never be in that position moving forward.

“Chuck was looking to take my back or go for the armbar as soon as we hit the mat. Thus I didn’t worry about the mount,” Ferguson said. “Kid was slick but so am I. I was looking for the knockout standing and D’Arce (choke) from bottom position once we hit (jiu-jitsu) transitions. It was fun fighting against a wet blanket. Mark my words, that scenario won’t happen again. Period.”

You can see Ferguson’s Instagram post and read his full statement below:

A post shared by @TonyFergusonxt (@tonyfergusonxt)

My Crew 🍃 No Excuses, I Felt Flat. I Went Out Welcomed The Attack Instead Of Defend. The Warm Up Time In The Back for @UFC Hasn’t Been The Same Since Pre-COVID. Still No Excuses, Times Change So Do People 🍃🌱🍃 The Time From Hotel To UFC Apex Is Much More Condensed The Aggressive Level We Needed Was Not Reached. My Fault. 💯
After The Fight, We Were Checked By Doctors Went Back To The Hotel. I Felt It Was In Order To Hit Pads/Spar Immediately Because The Fight Was Fresh In My Mind Blood Circulation In My Arm Was Needed. I Really Needed To Figure Out What The F’n Problem Was From The Fight, Solution **Pre-Fight Time🥇Management**
Chuck Was Looking Take My Back or Go For The Armbar As Soon As We Hit The Mat. Thus I Didn’t Worry About The Mount, Kid Was Slick But So Am I. I Was Looking For The Knockout Standing D’arce From Bottom Position Once We Hit Jits Transitions. It Was Fun Fighting Against A Wetblanket (AKA “Heavy Pressure Opponent”) Mark My Words,That Scenario Won’t Happen Again. Period.
My Arm Is Aright, The Armbar Was Really Tight. The Thought Of My Son ArmandAnthony’s Ability To Be Double Jointed In His Elbow During That Sequence My Mental Capacity To Endure Pain Got Me Through It. # Breathe # Mental🥇TUFness. One ☝️
I’m Beyond Grateful Thankful For My Talents 🌱 I Have Learned So Much About Myself This Year What My Purpose In Life Is. My Search For That Epic Word Called “greatness” Isn’t Over. Understand Crew 🍃 We Are Far From Being Retired, So Message To My Haters🖕🤓 👍 *ShaBam*
Shout Out To My Team I Put Together On Three Weeks Notice. We’re Still Green🥇Boys Thanks For Not Deserting💯Me. (Team, We’re Barely Scratching The Surface To What We Can Truly Accomplish For That I Say Amen). It Was Great Making Weight Being Around My Fight Fam For The Week. I Can’t Wait Til We Compete In Front Of A Big Loud Crowd Again, It’s Not The Same Without You All
🎶🦸‍♂️🎶
Recovery🔛Moad # Happy⛄️Holidayze Crew 🍃 Champ Shit Only™️ Mi Gente “Never Give Up Keep The🙏Faith” Champ 🧢⚾️ -XTA- Hometeam 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 # BecauseHashbrownsAreDelicious 🥇

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/ufc-256-tony-ferguson-undeterred-charles-oliveira

Sabina Mazo is not ready to say goodbye to the flyweight division.

The former LFA women’s flyweight champion and current UFC prospect is not closing the chapter at 125 pounds despite having her bantamweight debut booked for early 2021. Mazo (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is set to compete against former UFC title challenger Alexis Davis at the UFC’s “Fight Night” card on Feb. 27.

“The Colombian Queen” has plans on returning to flyweight and assures fans she’s not leaving the division.

“I have plans of fighting at 125 pounds. It’s a decision that I feel good making when it comes to fight night,” Mazo said in Spanish on Monday’s episode of Hablemos MMA. “I can make the weight, so I’m not closing that door. I didn’t change weight classes to not come back to 125 pounds. It’s more for opening other opportunities.”

Mazo’s opponent, Davis, has a long history at 135 pounds. She fought then-UFC champion Ronda Rousey for the women’s bantamweight title in 2014. She also competed in Strikeforce and Invicta FC at bantamweight.

However, since late 2017, Davis has been fighting at flyweight, where she’s currently ranked 13th in the UFC’s official rankings.

The 23-year-old Mazo thinks she’s at a stage at which she needs more experience and different challenges for her young MMA career. Mazo, who’s on a three-fight winning streak, wants to get busy and keep gathering fight knowledge.

“I already had this in mind. I want to fight often, and I wanted to have that experience at 135 pounds,” Mazo explained. “The fight came together a few weeks back, and in interviews after my last fight I said I was open to opportunities at 135 pounds.

“However, if any other opportunity came at 125 pounds, that would work as well, because that’s the division I fight in. But this allows me to keep a better rhythm and have more fights.

“I’m at a moment where I need more experience and I need more ground in the octagon. By taking fights at 135 and 125, this allows me to get more experience and get different looks from opposition, so that’s what it is. That’s the main reason and motive in why I’m open to both divisions.”

Mazo is excited to be fighting a seasoned veteran and notable name in women’s MMA. The Kings MMA product is also enthusiastic about seeing how her body feels training and fighting 10 pounds north.

“It obviously causes a lot of curiosity,” Mazo said. “And even in training, how I prepare physically for 135 pounds, it’s going to be different for the body. So it should have different results on my body. It’s 10 more pounds that I wont be cutting.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/12/sabina-mazo-not-ruling-out-flyweight-despite-bantamweight-debut-ufc

Up until 2020, UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson was on a 12-fight winning streak. It is one of the longest streaks in UFC history without a shot at the undisputed title.

But then 2020 hit. And like it has been for many, 2020 has not treated Ferguson kindly… at least, not in the Octagon.

Ferguson returned at UFC 249 in May, where company president Dana White re-opened the sports world from the shutdown attributed to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Ferguson lost to Justin Gaethje at UFC 249. It took some time to set up his next bout, which ended up being a lopsided loss to Charles Oliveira at UFC 256 this past weekend.

Does that mean Tony Ferguson is on the downslide?

White admitted that while it’s possible that Ferguson might never return to his old form, there is no denying his heart and tenacity.

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UFC 256: Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira fight recap and highlights

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/dana-white-heaps-praise-on-tony-ferguson-despite-ufc-256-loss

Before Geoff Neal steps into Saturday’s UFC Vegas 17 main event in Las Vegas, take a look back at his blistering knockout of “Platinum” Mike Perry at UFC 245.

Neal returns to the Octagon after a year on the sidelines to face Stephen Thompson in the UFC Vegas 17 headliner. Their last-minute move to the top of the fight card is a huge opportunity for Neal, who could take a leap up the 170-pound rankings with a victory over the likes of Thompson.

UFC Vegas 17: Thompson vs. Neal is the fight promotion’s final event of 2020 before taking a three-week sabbatical heading into 2021.

(Video courtesy of UFC)

TRENDING Dana White: Old big names in UFC are moving on, retiring

UFC 256: Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira fight recap and highlights

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/watch-geoff-neal-wreck-mike-perry-ahead-of-ufc-vegas-17