Latest news with #GeoffNeal
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Carlos Prates thinks KO of Geoff Neal at UFC 319 throws him right back in mix
CHICAGO – Carlos Prates may have taken a step backward, but he doesn't think it'll take long to regain ground. At UFC 319, Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) aims to bounce back from a loss to Ian Machado Garry when he battles Geoff Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in a three-round welterweight bout at United Center. "I learned a lot about how to listen to my coach, first of all, how important the right game plan is," Neal told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday at a pre-fight news conference. "Of course Ian is great. He's a really smart, really intelligent fighter. But I also learned how to be a complete fighter is important. Sometimes, it's time to stop thinking about only bonuses and knocking people out and entertaining people, and just focusing on getting the win. Because at the end of the day, getting the win is more important than getting bonuses or something like that." Prates, 31, has lost several times in the lead-up to his UFC signing in August 2023. When he walked through the threshold of the UFC roster, Prates quickly ascended up the divisional ladder with knockouts of Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Neil Magny. When he got to Garry, Prates was competitive and nearly finished the Irishman late. However, Garry proved to be too crafty over the course of five rounds and won by unanimous decision. Given the nature of that bout and where the division is at, Prates doesn't think the loss set him back too far. A big knockout victory Saturday could put him back in the mix. "After (beating) Geoff Neal, it's going to make life on the top of the division," Prates said. "You know when you talk about who is close to the title shot? Maybe one, maybe two or three fights? So you have some names there. I lost my last fight and I think my name is not there. But I think after I beat Geoff Neal, my name is going to be back with the guys close enough to a title shot. Maybe three fights or one year (from now) I can fight for the belt."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carlos Prates hasn't quit smoking, but says it won't stop him from being the first to KO Geoff Neal in the UFC
Carlos Prates is one of the more unique characters on the Fighting Nerds' team, which says a lot. The Brazilian welterweight contender has been a thrilling finisher throughout his UFC run, but was met with some resistance in his latest Octagon appearance. He'll get a chance to right the ship when he meets Geoff Neal in Chicago at UFC 319 on Saturday. The unanimous decision loss to Ian Machado Garry in UFC Kansas City's main event forced Prates to reevaluate his approach to fights, and maybe more so, how he executes his game plans. It was his first time going beyond the third round in his 28-fight career, and despite his questionable, but admitted love of smoking cigarettes, Prates didn't feel overly slowed or tired by the 25-minute mark. Regardless, don't expect the Fighting Nerds slugger to break his habit, as he still smokes roughly eight cigarettes daily. "Sometimes I start to smoke a little bit less, but it's hard," Prates said Monday on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I get really excited, and I want to eat. I cannot eat pizza all day, so I prefer to smoke rather than have some problem with making weight. "I like to smoke before I go to the stadium. We cannot smoke in the locker room. Smoke before, then I go there." Prates can be commended for attempting to live a healthier lifestyle, but the cigarettes have yet to affect his performances. From an in-fight perspective, Prates believes that his recent lessons taught him to adapt and shift his speed. If he wants to be a champion, that might mean toning down his violent intentions. "The way I think to win the fight [might change]," Prates said. "On the level we are right now, the really high level, some small mistakes make a difference at the end of the fight. So it's time to sometimes think less about entertaining and more about winning. Not go for knockouts, you know what I mean? It's not only about bonuses. I want to finish the fight the way it's going to bring me a bonus. First, a win bonus is really nice. Getting the win is most important. I think it's changed a little bit in my mind." Prates' improvements will be tested by his next opponent Neal. Initially, the matchup was supposed to come at UFC 314 in April. Unfortunately for Neal, he was forced out of the bout for undisclosed reasons, which bumped Prates into his headliner opposite Garry at UFC Kansas City. Prates will have his hands full with his fellow striker in Neal. "Hands of Stone" has given some of the division's best all they can handle while staying relevant in his own right. Although Neal lives up to his moniker, he's also a durable foe with no knockout losses in the UFC. For Prates, Neal's history of avoiding knockouts adds a little extra motivation. "I'm really good at knocking people out who have never been knocked out before," Prates said. "I won the belt off the biggest show in Brazil, and I knocked out the guy. He was southpaw, so I'm really good fighting against southpaws, and he was never knocked out, and I was the first to knock him out. When I fought Li Jingliang, he was never knocked out in his career, not only UFC. I was the first one. Saturday night, I'm going to be the first one to knock Geoff Neal out for the first time in the UFC. "Nothing personal against him, it's just because it's the way I like to fight. I'm a striker and I like to knock people out. ... I know how to do that, that's my best."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Video: UFC 319 'Countdown' for Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Did you miss the debut of UFC 319 "Countdown" or just want to watch it again? Check out the featured bout preview now. The segment takes a special look at the main card welterweight fight between Geoff Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) anmd Carlos Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC). UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at United Center in Chicago. "Countdown" goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don't miss the entire episode in the video below. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319 preview video: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Video: UFC 319 'Countdown' for Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
Did you miss the debut of UFC 319 "Countdown" or just want to watch it again? Check out the featured bout preview now. The segment takes a special look at the main card welterweight fight between Geoff Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) anmd Carlos Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC). UFC 319 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at United Center in Chicago. "Countdown" goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don't miss the entire episode in the video below.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 319 adds Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates to Chicago
A welterweight banger that was booked once before is back on the UFC's books. Contenders Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates will square off in a three-round clash at UFC 319, which takes place Aug. 16 at United Center in Chicago, the promotion announced Sunday. Neal (16-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) vs. Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was previously booked for UFC 314 in April. It was canceled as Neal withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Prates was pushed back two weeks and headlined UFC on ESPN 66 against Ian Machado Garry, who won by unanimous decision. Advertisement The Machado Garry loss was Prates' first in his UFC tenure after a skyrocketing run to contendership that included knockouts of Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Neil Magny. Neal has not competed since a 90-second TKO win (due to injury) over Rafael dos Anjos in August 2024. The win bounced Neal back into the win column after consecutive losses to Shavkat Rakhmonov and Machado Garry. With the addition, the UFC 319 lineup includes: Champion Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev – for middleweight title Jared Cannonier vs. Michael Page Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates Tim Elliott vs. Kai Asakura Edson Barboza vs. Drakkar Klose Jessica Andrade vs. Loopy Godinez Diego Ferreira vs. King Green Bryan Battle vs. Nursulton Ruziboev Gerald Meerschaert vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk JJ Aldrich vs. Karine Silva Alexander Hernandez vs. Chase Hooper This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 319 lands previously canceled banger: Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
