vs
-240 +235
UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria · Feb 17, 2024 · Welterweight · Completed
Prev Fight UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria Next Fight
Age 28
Height 6' 3"
Reach 74.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Orthodox
Age 35
Height 5' 11"
Reach 75.0"
Weight 170 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Career Averages - Ian Machado Garry
4.78 SLpM
54.0% Str. Acc.
2.86 SApM
52.0% Str. Def.
0.92 TD Avg
31.0% TD Acc.
80.0% TD Def.
0.4 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Geoff Neal
5.02 SLpM
50.0% Str. Acc.
5.5 SApM
57.0% Str. Def.
0.54 TD Avg
45.0% TD Acc.
87.0% TD Def.
0.1 Sub. Avg
Ian Machado Garry
Moneyline
BetWay -240
KO/TKO
BetWay +300
Submission
BetMGM +800
Decision
BetWay +140
Geoff Neal
Moneyline
Caesars +235
KO/TKO
BetMGM +350
Submission
FanDuel +2500
Decision
BetRivers +700
Ian Machado Garry - Fight History
Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker · Nov 22, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Belal Muhammad 0 56 of 139 40% 97 of 197 0 of 7 0% 0 0 3:35
Ian Machado Garry 0 72 of 141 51% 96 of 167 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:39
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Belal Muhammad 0 24 of 57 42% 30 of 69 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:40
Ian Machado Garry 0 27 of 53 50% 31 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Belal Muhammad 0 11 of 33 33% 28 of 58 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:49
Ian Machado Garry 0 20 of 39 51% 35 of 56 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:06
3 Belal Muhammad 0 21 of 49 42% 39 of 70 0 of 3 0% 0 0 1:06
Ian Machado Garry 0 25 of 49 51% 30 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:33
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Belal Muhammad 56 of 139 40% 45 of 126 8 of 9 3 of 4 52 of 131 4 of 8 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 72 of 141 51% 35 of 98 10 of 15 27 of 28 66 of 134 6 of 7 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Belal Muhammad 24 of 57 42% 17 of 49 5 of 5 2 of 3 23 of 55 1 of 2 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 27 of 53 50% 14 of 36 2 of 5 11 of 12 27 of 53 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Belal Muhammad 11 of 33 33% 9 of 30 2 of 3 0 of 0 10 of 30 1 of 3 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 20 of 39 51% 9 of 27 3 of 4 8 of 8 19 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Belal Muhammad 21 of 49 42% 19 of 47 1 of 1 1 of 1 19 of 46 2 of 3 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 25 of 49 51% 12 of 35 5 of 6 8 of 8 20 of 43 5 of 6 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Ian Garry vs. Belal Muhammad
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Garry (-240); Muhammad (+190)

Round 1
Many have complained that this welterweight co-main attraction is not receiving five-round attention given its high stakes and that both men prefer a prolonged engagement. Nonetheless, Muhammad (24-4, 1 NC; 15-4, 1 NC UFC) and Garry (16-1, 9-1 UFC) will have three rounds to work today, meaning that every minute will count that much more. Fully aware that this one could reach the 15-minute mark, referee Rich Mitchell is in it for the long haul. The fighters do not touch gloves, opting to get right down to business.
Muhammad punches his way in, and Garry backs him off with a low kick and one high. Garry gets away with a slight eye scrape, and after a combination, he pushes off and jams his finger into Muhammad’s right eye socket. The few punches he landed have opened a cut beneath Muhammad’s left eye, which is not the one poked. Mitchell calls time and brings in the doctor but does not have a towel or cloth to wipe out the former champ’s eye. Mitchell admonishes the doctor for not bringing in the towel, who then comes in and bizarrely (and improperly) tends to the cut instead of the eye. The fighter cleans his eye out and is ready to go after about 100 seconds. Garry is quick to get right back behind his jab, intercepting Muhammad as he looks to change levels. Garry pushes out a front kick and checks a kick, and Garry’s low kick response is far heavier. Garry fires off a high kick from a safe distance, stay away from Muhammad getting his hands on him. Muhammad tries to cream him with a huge overhand right, missing it by a matter of millimeters. He tries again with the same swinging strike, and it is much more distant this time around. Garry’s jab flusters Muhammad, but he slips and has to scramble to get away. Garry stomps at Muhammad’s knee on the reset.
Muhammad paws out with his own left hand, faking level changes to draw reactions out of his opponent and marking up Garry’s cheek. Muhammad launches a head kick to target that wound, and he crashes forward when that is blocked to tie the Irishman up. Garry escapes, but Muhammad follows him and clips him with his hard right hand. Garry times a left hand that gets Muhammad’s attention, and he manages to lean back to evade the looping strike aimed at his face. Garry pounds the front leg with a kick, and Muhammad counters him with a solid left. Muhammad shoots for a single, spinning Garry around several times but not grounding him. The taller Garry keeps himself upright and puts the wall behind him so that he can rebound and break free, and he looks for spinning strikes as the round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garry
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garry
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garry

Round 2
Garry starts the round off with kicks to the lead knee, his oblique kicks hyperextending the limb when it lands flush. His jabs open a little cut on the bridge of the nose as well, and he catches Muhammad in the midst of an exchange but is nailed with the counter. Garry snaps the head back with a jab, and he leans to not get caught on the way out. Garry doubles up on his jab to plunk Muhammad with a right hand, and he spins with a back kick to the torso to punctuate the combination. Garry lands a hard leg kick, and Muhammad blitzes him with a body lock to take the fight horizontal. Garry splits off before getting dragged down, and Muhammad is warned for his outstretched fingers. Muhammad crashes the pocket again for a takedown, and the two clack heads when up close.
Muhammad puts his hand on the top of the fence illegally and is fussed at a few times before taking it back down, and the clinch continues. Muhammad embraces the grind by pressing as much of his body weight on the Irishman as he can, but Garry breaks free and trades hands with him on the way out. Muhammad shoots for a single, and Garry stifles him and bullies him on the way out. Muhammad bounces off the fence to reset, and he drives a one-two down the pipe. Garry pushes out with both hands, fingers outstretched, and he pokes Muhammad in the eye with at least his left. Mitchell calls time again and demands the doctor come back into the cage with another cloth to let him wipe it out, and Muhammad is irritated about the fouls landing on him again. Rules mean nothing, because Garry is only told to be careful with his fingers after landing multiple eye pokes and already being warned for this as well. Muhammad is good to go after about 75 seconds, and he proceeds to chase down the Irishman letting his hands go. Muhammad drops to a knee to go after a takedown, and he pushes Garry to the fence. Garry shrugs to signal he is just being held in place, so Muhammad knees him in the thigh a few times for good measure. Garry breaks out of the clinch with an elbow right at the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garry
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garry
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Muhammad

Round 3
Muhammad takes a few seconds to charge his battery, and then proceeds to angrily race after Garry with his fists swinging. Garry bounces off the cage wall to get to his preferred range, and he nails Muhammad with a one-two. He follows the effective strike with a front kick that bashes “Remember the Name” in the face. Muhammad can only reply with a single entry, and Garry stops it, ducking away when Muhammad tries for something on the break. Muhammad walks him down and belts him with a vicious right hand, and Garry’s chin is granite after absorbing the blow. Muhammad bullies Garry to the wire when pursuing a takedown, and Garry’s defense holds up while Muhammad gloms onto him. Garry turns him about and has his guard ready to defend the high kick he anticipates.
Garry hurts Muhammad’s front leg with a number of push kicks to the knee, again hyperextending it and torqueing the tendons like overtuned guitar strings about to snap. They spin one another around when finding themselves in a clinch, and Garry is tripped up and bounces back to his feet as if there were springs in his heels. The Irishman walks through a pair of punches to fire back with a vengeance, clipping Muhammad with a right hand and shifting to be just out of range of anticipated counters. Muhammad settles for a clinch try, and Garry splits before long but has his hands down waiting for Muhammad to approach him. This allows Muhammad to pop him in the chops with several fast punches, only to get met with a slashing elbow that would make Jason Voorhees blush. Muhammad holds serve as he tries to give Garry everything he has left, and the two men proceed to go wild with head kicks, spinning stuff, looping punches and anything else they can muster until time expires. This one was very close and scores may vary, but a title shot may not be looming for the victor given the other recent spectacular performances at welterweight for names like Michael Morales and Carlos Prates.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Garry (30-27 Garry)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Garry (30-27 Garry)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Garry (29-28 Garry)

The Official Result
Ian Garry def. Belal Muhammad via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Angelo picks Ian Garry over Belal Muhammad. He argues that if Garry can defend takedowns, he wins easily due to superior striking, length, speed, and power. Muhammad's only path is wrestling, but he has no Plan B. Garry showed adjustments in his loss to Shavkat, while Muhammad is one-dimensional. Angelo acknowledges the fight is competitive but favors Garry.

"I have to go Ian here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Big Brady picks Ian Machado Garry by decision, criticizing Belal Muhammad's fight IQ and game plan. He believes Muhammad will try to strike instead of wrestle, leading to a clear decision loss. He notes Muhammad's tools but doubts his execution.

decision
"I'm going to take Gary. I'm going to take Gary to win this fight by decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Cody picks Ian Garry confidently, noting that Belal Muhammad's wins are aging poorly and that Garry is younger, bigger, and has better takedown defense. He believes Garry can outpoint Muhammad and stuff takedowns, similar to how Michael Morales beat Brady. Cody warns against falling into the trap of hating on Belal, but ultimately sees Garry's advantages.

"I got to go Gary as well, but if you got it at minus 180 - 190 the more you start to fall to this minus 220 - 230 more"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Connor picks Garry, citing his size, reach, and athleticism as key advantages over Muhammad. He notes that Muhammad's wins have come against smaller opponents and that Garry's improved striking and clinch work from the Prochazka fight give him confidence. Connor acknowledges Muhammad's tactical skill but doubts his physicality at the elite level.

Garry by decision; fight could be similar to Shavkat vs Garry
"I think I'm going to pick Gary. I think he's big enough and the ball is not physical enough that I trust the ball because I mean, that's the other thing with Gary in that Shopkop fight is I think …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Lucrative James picks Ian Garry, citing his superior striking, youth (27 vs 37), and recent grappling improvements shown against Shavkat Rakhmonov. He believes Belal's only path is wrestling, but Garry's takedown defense and scrambling have improved. He notes the 10-year age gap and Garry's momentum. He predicts a decision win for Garry.

"I'm going to go with Ian Gary in this fight, right?"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Garry is a slick striker with high fight IQ and takedown defense. Muhammad relies on grappling pressure but may struggle to get takedowns. Garry should out-strike him and win a decision, possibly with a late finish.

Garry by decision; wait for better line
"I'm going to go Gary here. I'm going to go Gary by decision."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Paul picks Ian Garry, having added him to parlays early. He believes Garry's length, footwork, and takedown defense will be too much for Belal, who is at the end of his career. Paul notes that Belal's wins are aging poorly and that Garry's striking and ring IQ are superior.

"I think Gary's length, footwork, probably even takedown defense is going to be too much for Bal."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

The MMA Guru picks Ian Garry over Belal Muhammad, believing Garry's striking and takedown defense will be too much. He notes Garry's performances against Shavkat and MVP. He predicts a third-round TKO, with Garry calling out Makhachev afterward.

Ian Garry to fight for more than 2.5 total rounds (from earlier prizepicks segment); third round TKO
"I'm going to go with Ian Garry. I think he finishes Belal. I think he's going to get a TKO over Belal Muhammad."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Zane also picks Garry, emphasizing his faith in Garry's improved game plan and coaching from the Prochazka fight. He notes that Garry's reach and ability to control range will trouble Muhammad, who lacks the athleticism to pressure effectively. Zane sees Muhammad's path to victory as narrow, requiring a perfect game plan.

Garry by decision; Muhammad could win if Garry regresses
"I'm taking Gary as well, but it's a very compelling matchup. I really like it."
WIN vs Carlos Prates
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates · Apr 26, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 0 126 of 242 52% 141 of 259 4 of 19 21% 0 0 3:09
Carlos Prates 0 63 of 129 48% 64 of 132 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:46
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 15 of 39 38% 15 of 39 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:12
Carlos Prates 0 7 of 16 43% 7 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
2 Ian Machado Garry 0 34 of 68 50% 36 of 70 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Carlos Prates 0 12 of 22 54% 12 of 22 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
3 Ian Machado Garry 0 26 of 52 50% 33 of 60 2 of 3 66% 0 0 1:25
Carlos Prates 0 10 of 20 50% 10 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
4 Ian Machado Garry 0 23 of 42 54% 26 of 45 2 of 7 28% 0 0 0:58
Carlos Prates 0 12 of 33 36% 12 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Ian Machado Garry 0 28 of 41 68% 31 of 45 0 of 6 0% 0 0 0:34
Carlos Prates 0 22 of 38 57% 23 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:01
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 126 of 242 52% 86 of 185 17 of 28 23 of 29 120 of 231 2 of 6 4 of 5
Carlos Prates 63 of 129 48% 38 of 97 16 of 21 9 of 11 50 of 114 1 of 2 12 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 15 of 39 38% 8 of 25 3 of 7 4 of 7 11 of 34 0 of 0 4 of 5
Carlos Prates 7 of 16 43% 2 of 8 2 of 3 3 of 5 7 of 16 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ian Machado Garry 34 of 68 50% 22 of 51 5 of 8 7 of 9 34 of 68 0 of 0 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 12 of 22 54% 4 of 14 3 of 3 5 of 5 12 of 22 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Ian Machado Garry 26 of 52 50% 19 of 42 4 of 7 3 of 3 26 of 50 0 of 2 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 10 of 20 50% 6 of 16 4 of 4 0 of 0 10 of 20 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Ian Machado Garry 23 of 42 54% 15 of 34 3 of 3 5 of 5 23 of 41 0 of 1 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 12 of 33 36% 9 of 26 2 of 6 1 of 1 12 of 32 0 of 1 0 of 0
5 Ian Machado Garry 28 of 41 68% 22 of 33 2 of 3 4 of 5 26 of 38 2 of 3 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 22 of 38 57% 17 of 33 5 of 5 0 of 0 9 of 24 1 of 1 12 of 13
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

Angelo picks Carlos Prates because he believes Prates is the better striker, which is key against a primarily striking opponent like Ian Garry. He notes that Garry may try to wrestle, but Prates has better takedown defense than MVP and won't be helpless on the ground. He acknowledges the risk but is confident in Prates' power and range control.

Not betting on this fight; pick only
"I am going to pick Carlos Protesus here. I don't know if I'm going to bet on it."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

Big Brady picks Carlos Prates, citing the Fighting Nerds' undefeated record and Prates' power and accuracy. He criticizes Ian Garry's striking defense, noting he backs up with his chin up. He expects Prates to land a big shot and knock out Garry, predicting a second-round knockout.

second round knockout
"I think it's a Carlos Proess I'll say second round knockout for for Carlos Proess here in what should be a what should be a phenomenal main event."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Connor picks Garry because he believes Garry can exploit Prates' weaknesses: Prates has a wide stance, struggles moving backwards, and defaults to clinching when pressured. Garry can use his reach to pressure, wrestle with authority, and neutralize Prates' game. Connor thinks Garry's ability to make fights ugly and suffocating will lead to a grinding win, even if uninspired.

"I think he can go after Proches and kick him because Proches loves that really wide stance and keep him moving backwards."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

The host leans Garry slightly, citing his better discipline and technical game. He notes Prates is dangerous and has finished all UFC fights, but Garry is the most technically sound opponent he's faced. Garry's five-round experience and ability to mix striking with grappling should lead to a decision win.

"I'm going to have to lean Gary ever so slightly here. I think he has the better discipline and better technical game overall."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

The MMA Guru picks Carlos Prates to win by TKO in round two. He believes Prates has better finishing potential and composure, while Garry is nervous early and has a tendency to throw low kicks in elbow distance, leaving him open. He notes Garry's short reach for his height and that Prates has good balance and takedown defense. He expects Prates to hurt Garry in round one and finish him in round two.

TKO round 2
"I'm going to go for Carlos Prates round two TKO over Ian Garry. I think he's going to chin him. I think Ian Garry will do well. protest will hurt him in round one and it will start changing the …"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

Zane picks Prates despite acknowledging Garry's advantages, because he expects Garry to be passive and fight on the back foot, which gives Prates room to work. Zane notes Prates has a great eye for defensive openings and can pick up on Garry's timing issues. He also mentions Prates' finishing ability and the fact that Garry has been less aggressive recently, but admits Prates has never fought five rounds and could gas.

"I'm going to take Proches just to will it into existence."
Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47) R5 5:00 · UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura · Dec 07, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 37 of 67 55% 65 of 102 2 of 10 20% 0 1 11:41
Ian Machado Garry 0 42 of 84 50% 102 of 157 1 of 2 50% 2 0 2:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 2 of 5 40% 13 of 16 0 of 3 0% 0 0 3:20
Ian Machado Garry 0 3 of 4 75% 14 of 17 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:09
2 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 9 of 18 50% 15 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:31
Ian Machado Garry 0 10 of 24 41% 13 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:26
3 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 11 of 19 57% 11 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:11
Ian Machado Garry 0 14 of 34 41% 14 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
4 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 14 of 22 63% 19 of 30 2 of 3 66% 0 0 2:55
Ian Machado Garry 0 11 of 16 68% 23 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
5 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 1 of 3 33% 7 of 12 0 of 3 0% 0 1 2:44
Ian Machado Garry 0 4 of 6 66% 38 of 46 1 of 1 100% 2 0 1:36
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shavkat Rakhmonov 37 of 67 55% 29 of 55 6 of 10 2 of 2 24 of 50 3 of 4 10 of 13
Ian Machado Garry 42 of 84 50% 11 of 40 10 of 15 21 of 29 35 of 72 7 of 12 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shavkat Rakhmonov 2 of 5 40% 1 of 3 1 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 2 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 3 of 4 75% 0 of 1 2 of 2 1 of 1 1 of 2 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Shavkat Rakhmonov 9 of 18 50% 9 of 16 0 of 2 0 of 0 9 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 10 of 24 41% 2 of 12 2 of 3 6 of 9 8 of 20 2 of 4 0 of 0
3 Shavkat Rakhmonov 11 of 19 57% 7 of 14 4 of 5 0 of 0 10 of 18 1 of 1 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 14 of 34 41% 4 of 16 3 of 7 7 of 11 14 of 31 0 of 3 0 of 0
4 Shavkat Rakhmonov 14 of 22 63% 11 of 19 1 of 1 2 of 2 3 of 8 1 of 1 10 of 13
Ian Machado Garry 11 of 16 68% 2 of 6 3 of 3 6 of 7 10 of 15 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Shavkat Rakhmonov 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
Ian Machado Garry 4 of 6 66% 3 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 1 2 of 4 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Angelo picks Shavkat Rakhmonov but is nervous. He notes Shavkat has more ways to win (KO, submission) and is dangerous everywhere, but his takedowns are not great (1 for 5 against Wonderboy) and he hasn't fought meaningful time. Ian Garry accepted this fight on short notice, which suggests he knows something. Angelo is leaning Shavkat but may just watch and enjoy.

Minus 350, might just watch and enjoy
"I'm going to pick shavkat rakman off but I'm a little nervous here"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Cody picks Rakhmonov, citing his undefeated record, finishing ability, and wins over tough opponents. He notes Rakhmonov's takedown accuracy is low but he finds the neck when needed. He has concerns about Rakhmonov's striking lulls and Garry's potential in a kickboxing match, but still favors Rakhmonov.

"I'm going to take Shavkat to get the job done and hand Ian Garry his first career loss."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Connor believes Shavkat's clinch game and pressure will be decisive. He notes that Shavkat has terrible striking defense but is durable and confident, and that his ability to get into the clinch and break opponents down is reminiscent of Khabib. Connor thinks Garry will have success at range early but will eventually give ground and get caught in clinches, leading to a finish. He also mentions the training partner dynamic, where Shavkat got the better of Garry on the ground.

Shavkat opened at -238, currently -372; Garry opened at +204, currently +304. Connor thinks the line is too wide but still favors Shavkat.
"I am inclined to take Shavkat. Even if I think Gary is going to show up some of his striking."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Daniel Vreeland picks Shavkat Rakhmonov, citing that the Michael Venom Page fight showed the ceiling of Ian Garry's striking. He argues that Garry's grappling ace won't work against Rakhmonov, who has superior wrestling and submission skills. Vreeland notes Rakhmonov's striking is good enough to hang with Garry, and his finishing upside is all on his side, especially in a five-round fight where it gets worse for Garry.

"yeah and I'm still going Rockman off uh for me you know you watch that and Gary fight with Mich zenom page and it was like okay there's the ceiling on Machado Gary striking right and and we kind of …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Daniel believes Rakhmonov's clinch work and physicality will be too much for Garry. He notes Garry's vulnerability after being dropped by Keenan Song and questions his vegan diet's effect on muscle mass. He expects Rakhmonov to close distance methodically and hand Garry his first loss.

"I'm gonna go Shaftcat Rammon up to come out here, hand Ian Gary his first ever loss."
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Jeff Fox agrees with Rakhmonov, noting that the MVP fight was not encouraging for Garry and that this is a massive step up. He questions Garry's path to victory, suggesting a decision is possible but would mean 15 minutes of danger. Fox points out that the finishing upside is all on Rakhmonov, especially in a five-round fight, making it even worse for Garry.

"no there's no real holes at least he hasn't shown any holes yet uh sha cut hasn't not that Gary is is looked bad but yeah that mvp fight was not encouraging um it's it's a big step up from …"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Lucrative James picks Ian Garry as a significant underdog, calling it a 50/50 fight. He believes Garry's slick striking, body work, and BJJ will be enough to outpoint Rakhmonov. He notes Garry's durability is underrated and that the former sparring partner dynamic adds volatility. He trusts Garry's cardio and toughness to persevere.

"I actually think Ian Gary is going to win this fight... I'm picking Ian Gary outright in this one boys."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Although the line is wide in favor of Rakhmonov, Gary could provide resistance with his technical striking and walk Rakhmonov into some shots. However, the ultimate difference maker will be Rakhmonov's aggressiveness, which will wear down Gary and lead to a finish within rounds three or four.

finish within rounds 3-4
"I do believe the ultimate differen maker is going to be the aggressiveness on Rock manov which event eventually wears down Gary and leads to a finish for rock manov within rounds three or four"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Paul picks Rakhmonov, emphasizing his finishing ability and superior competition. He criticizes Garry's hype and close fights, noting his takedown defense and cardio concerns. He thinks Rakhmonov's grappling will be the difference, but acknowledges the line is too heavy to bet heavily.

"Rakhmonov is going to take him down... I think Rakhmonov wins this fight wide."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

The MMA Guru picks Shavkat, but acknowledges Ian Garry's solid chance. He thinks Garry will be winning early, but Shavkat will crack him in the third or fourth round, leading to a momentum shift. He notes Garry is more likely to break (leg, hand, body shot) and that Shavkat's pressure and clinch work will be decisive. He predicts a TKO win against the cage in the late third or fourth round.

Shavkat wins by TKO in round 3 or 4
"I got shavkat but hear me out Ian Gary's got a solid chance here"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Zane agrees with Connor, highlighting Shavkat's clinch expertise and Garry's tendency to back up under pressure. He notes that Garry's risk aversion and lack of elite athleticism will be exposed, and that Shavkat's finishing ability will likely lead to a stoppage. Zane also points out that Garry's recent performances have been lackluster and that he struggles when pressured.

"I think Shavkat's going to be champ here very, very soon."
WIN vs Michael Page
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 · Jun 29, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 0 19 of 39 48% 65 of 101 2 of 5 40% 2 0 7:29
Michael Page 0 21 of 38 55% 52 of 74 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:52
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 2 of 6 33% 27 of 41 1 of 1 100% 2 0 3:52
Michael Page 0 2 of 6 33% 7 of 12 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Ian Machado Garry 0 9 of 21 42% 10 of 22 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:41
Michael Page 0 14 of 23 60% 31 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:15
3 Ian Machado Garry 0 8 of 12 66% 28 of 38 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:56
Michael Page 0 5 of 9 55% 14 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 19 of 39 48% 12 of 26 3 of 7 4 of 6 9 of 25 5 of 7 5 of 7
Michael Page 21 of 38 55% 15 of 28 4 of 5 2 of 5 19 of 34 0 of 1 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 2 of 6 33% 2 of 4 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 2
Michael Page 2 of 6 33% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 2 2 of 5 0 of 1 0 of 0
2 Ian Machado Garry 9 of 21 42% 4 of 13 2 of 3 3 of 5 5 of 15 4 of 6 0 of 0
Michael Page 14 of 23 60% 9 of 16 3 of 4 2 of 3 12 of 20 0 of 0 2 of 3
3 Ian Machado Garry 8 of 12 66% 6 of 9 1 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 5
Michael Page 5 of 9 55% 4 of 8 1 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 0
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Cody picks Garry, emphasizing his youth, grappling advantage, and cardio. He notes that Page is 37 and has shown takedown defense issues, while Garry is a judo black belt with improving wrestling. Cody believes Garry will use leg kicks and clinch work to neutralize Page's movement, and that he can win a decision or possibly get a submission. He also mentions that Page's win over Kevin Holland was unimpressive and that Garry has the skills to implement a game plan.

"I'll take Ian Garry here likely by decision."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Vreeland picks Ian Garry because he believes Garry is smart enough to not let Michael Page fight his fight. He notes that Page's best performances come against opponents who are 'a little nuts' and willing to engage in chaos, but Garry is disciplined and won't be lured out of his game plan. Vreeland expects Garry to crowd Page, press him against the cage, and possibly mix in grappling to neutralize Page's striking range. He also points out that Garry has better grappling stats and is younger and more active.

"I think he's smart enough to not do that... Ian Gary I think you know despite the fact that some people haven't really liked him... the reason he's not exciting is because he's a guy who won't be lured out …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Page

Daniel took MVP at plus 125 for two units, his first time picking against Garry. He believes MVP's speed and unorthodox style can fluster Garry, and that Garry's wrestling advantage is mitigated by MVP's improved takedown defense. He acknowledges the age difference (11 years) but sees MVP as an anomaly. He is worried about Garry's top control but is letting it ride.

"I took a MVP here I think plus 125 for two units this is my first time ever picking against Gary... I like MVP to come out here and kind of fluster Ian Gary with his speed."
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Jeff Fox picks Ian Garry, stating that Garry has proven he knows how to stay safe and use range and distance better than Page. He notes that Page did not look impressive in his win over Kevin Holland and didn't put his foot on the gas, which could get him in trouble against Garry. Fox believes Garry is a very good deal at minus 137.

"Give me the Irishman give me Ian masary... he's proven that he has what it takes... he knows how to stay safe in fights and how to use range and distance."
LU
Lucrative James Expert pick date unknown

The host does not discuss this fight at all in the transcript. The entire podcast is focused on the Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler fight, which is not on the provided fight card. Therefore, no pick is made for this fight.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

The host is confident in Garry, emphasizing his superior grappling. He believes Garry will exploit Page's takedown defense and use his wrestling to take the fight to the mat, where he can control or submit Page. He notes Garry is not outmatched on the feet and expects the line to move to -160 or -170 by fight time. He also mentions a submission prop at +900 as a sprinkle.

Garry by submission at +900
"I think we will see mad Gary for the first time in his UFC career look to utilize his grappling and I think it's going to happen very effectively here."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean pick date unknown
Michael Page

Paul picks Page by knockout, admitting he is betting with his heart because he dislikes Garry. He acknowledges that Garry has a grappling advantage but believes Page's power and flashy striking can end the fight at any moment. Paul notes that Page looked good against Kevin Holland and that Garry has been rocked before. He also mentions that Page is a plus-500 underdog by knockout, which offers value.

by knockout +500
"I may bet with my heart here and bet Michael Venom Page by knockout plus 500."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Michael Page

The Guru picks Michael 'Venom' Page over Ian Garry. He believes MVP can make the fight boring and win by being selective with exchanges. He notes Garry's dismissive attitude as coping and thinks Garry is chinny. He predicts MVP will win by KO in round one or two, citing reach advantage and MVP's ability to win on the outside.

KO in round one or two
"I'm gonna go with MVP over Ian Gary... I think MVP is going to put him away and catch him on the chin"
WIN vs Geoff Neal
Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria · Feb 17, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 0 46 of 89 51% 57 of 102 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:45
Geoff Neal 0 67 of 135 49% 80 of 148 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 18 of 27 66% 19 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:10
Geoff Neal 0 20 of 38 52% 22 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
2 Ian Machado Garry 0 17 of 34 50% 23 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:20
Geoff Neal 0 23 of 43 53% 31 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
3 Ian Machado Garry 0 11 of 28 39% 15 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:15
Geoff Neal 0 24 of 54 44% 27 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 46 of 89 51% 25 of 64 10 of 13 11 of 12 38 of 79 8 of 10 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 67 of 135 49% 39 of 96 18 of 27 10 of 12 65 of 133 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 18 of 27 66% 11 of 20 2 of 2 5 of 5 16 of 25 2 of 2 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 20 of 38 52% 10 of 24 7 of 10 3 of 4 20 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ian Machado Garry 17 of 34 50% 10 of 24 4 of 6 3 of 4 11 of 26 6 of 8 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 23 of 43 53% 16 of 34 5 of 7 2 of 2 22 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Ian Machado Garry 11 of 28 39% 4 of 20 4 of 5 3 of 3 11 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 24 of 54 44% 13 of 38 6 of 10 5 of 6 23 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Angelo picks Ian Garry, citing his superior striking, hand speed, and footwork. He notes Garry is hittable but believes he can control range and avoid Neal's power. He plans to bet Geoff Neal inside the distance decision no action, as Neal is durable and has finishing upside. He is rooting for Neal but thinks Garry wins.

Geoff Neal wins inside distance (decision no action)
"I do think Ian Gary wins though but he's not going to be anywhere near my safety parlay"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Big Brady picks Geoff Neal as a dog to win by second-round knockout. He notes Gary's poor striking defense (53%) and history of getting dropped, while Neal has heavy hands (nicknamed 'Hands of Steel'). He acknowledges Gary is likely winning minutes but believes Neal's power gives him a live chance to land a big shot. He mentions Neal's past health issues but thinks if he's healthy, he can knock Gary out.

Neal by KO, round 2
"I'm actually G to take Jeff Neil here as a dog I'm gonna take Jeff Neil to to land a big shot and knock out and Gary here I'll say he knocks him out in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Cody picks Garry, emphasizing his speed and range management. He notes Neal is a one-dimensional boxer who struggles with lateral movement, as seen against Wonderboy. He expects Garry to use his jab and footwork to outpoint Neal, though he acknowledges Neal's power. He dislikes Garry's persona but believes he wins on volume.

"I think he wins more often than none on volume so could he clip Neil and put him away yeah but I think probably a decision stay to the outside pitter patter stay smart..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Vreeland picks Ian Machado Garry, citing his cleaner technical striking, better distance management, and superior striking defense. He notes Garry's leg kick heavy game plan against Magny (43/43 leg kicks) and believes Neal's hot-and-cold form since his near-death experience makes him unreliable. He also mentions Garry's takedown defense and five-round experience.

"I'm picking Ian Gary here... I think he's overall a cleaner technical striker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Neal is a deadly combination striker with power. He can close the pocket and exchange with Garry, opening a knockout opportunity. Garry relies on length and reach, but Neal's experience and technical advantages lead to a second-round KO.

"I think he can pull go out there and pull off the upset with a second round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Paul picks Garry despite wanting him to lose due to his persona. He notes Garry's length, technical striking, and ability to stay at range. He thinks Neal is one-dimensional and struggles with mobile strikers, as seen in the Wonderboy fight. He expects Garry to outpoint Neal with volume and lateral movement, though he acknowledges Neal's power threat.

"the pick's going to be Gary I don't I I I want him to lose though so I I know you're not supposed to let your emotions get in the way of money but it's like I would feel dirty …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

The MMA Guru picks Geoff Neal, citing Ian Garry's vulnerability to being caught on the chin and his lack of KO power in the UFC. He notes Garry's short reach for his height and his recent camp disruptions. He believes Neal's high guard and toughness will allow him to survive and land hooks, predicting a late round one or round two KO.

"I'm going Jeff Neal... you can't get dropped by Tekashi Sato and expect me not to pick Jeff Neal to finish you off."
WIN vs Neil Magny
Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–24) R3 5:00 · UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 0 27 of 66 40% 51 of 93 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:10
Neil Magny 0 91 of 150 60% 111 of 171 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:32
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 8 of 24 33% 22 of 40 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:05
Neil Magny 0 20 of 32 62% 33 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:07
2 Ian Machado Garry 0 11 of 27 40% 15 of 32 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:05
Neil Magny 0 31 of 53 58% 35 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:22
3 Ian Machado Garry 0 8 of 15 53% 14 of 21 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Neil Magny 0 40 of 65 61% 43 of 69 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 27 of 66 40% 10 of 41 7 of 11 10 of 14 25 of 61 2 of 5 0 of 0
Neil Magny 91 of 150 60% 32 of 90 16 of 17 43 of 43 84 of 140 4 of 5 3 of 5
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 8 of 24 33% 3 of 15 1 of 2 4 of 7 7 of 21 1 of 3 0 of 0
Neil Magny 20 of 32 62% 5 of 17 4 of 4 11 of 11 19 of 30 1 of 1 0 of 1
2 Ian Machado Garry 11 of 27 40% 5 of 20 3 of 4 3 of 3 10 of 25 1 of 2 0 of 0
Neil Magny 31 of 53 58% 9 of 30 6 of 7 16 of 16 28 of 49 3 of 4 0 of 0
3 Ian Machado Garry 8 of 15 53% 2 of 6 3 of 5 3 of 4 8 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Neil Magny 40 of 65 61% 18 of 43 6 of 6 16 of 16 37 of 61 0 of 0 3 of 4
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Angelo is confident in Ian Garry, believing his striking speed and timing will keep Neil Magny at range and prevent him from using his grappling. He notes that Magny is stepping up on short notice and that Garry has shown he can overcome adversity, as in the Song Kenan fight. He expects a clear decision win similar to Garry's win over Darian Weeks.

"Ian Gary is going to be the pick and I think this is going to look like when Ian beat Darian weeks... very confident in Ian especially with Neil magni stepping up on short notice."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Big Brady picks Ian Garry to win by third-round knockout, citing Garry's size, cardio, and power advantage. He notes Magny has been finished in 8 of 10 losses and struggled against Phil Rowe. Brady worries about Garry's striking defense but believes Magny lacks the power to exploit it.

win by KO, round 3
"give me Ian Gary to win this fight I'll take Ian Gary to win by third round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Cody acknowledges Garry's talent but notes his past struggles and poor takedown defense. He thinks Magny could pose problems with wrestling, but Magny looked washed in his last fight. He expects Garry to win, likely by decision, but doesn't love the -400 line. He suggests Garry may not add much value to parlays.

under 57.5 significant strikes for Garry; inside the distance possible but not confident
"I would take Gary now minus 400 again it's just not a money line that I love inside the distance if magnes completely washed sure inside the distance"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Levi is sold on Ian Machado Garry, calling him one of the best prospects in the welterweight division. He notes that Garry has good takedown defense, a solid get-up game, and has gone five rounds. Levi believes Garry will not fall into the trap of clinching with Magny, as other prospects have, because of his range management and footwork. He acknowledges the price is trash at -500 but still likes Garry to win.

Price is trash but Garry wins; minus 500 is too high but still a pick
"I've been sold since day one... the price is trash but I like Ian Gary in the spot"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Lucrative James picks Ian Garry to dominate, citing the 11-year age difference, Magny's short notice, and Magny's tendency to get finished when he loses. He believes Garry has a good chance of finishing Magny, though he notes Garry is more of a point striker. He prefers the finish prop over decision.

Ian Garry inside distance (plus 600)
"I honestly think Gary's gonna dominate this fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Garry is the sharper striker and should land clean shots down the pipe. Magny struggles against technical strikers and has been finished before. Garry's ability to avoid the cage and pivot off will prevent Magny from grinding him. Expect a knockout finish, making the KO prop at even money a strong play.

Garry by KO
"I'd rather take a shot on that because if he's going to look that minus 400 in my opinion it's going to be with him getting his hand raised by finish in the spot I don't think it comes by …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

The MMA Guru picks Ian Garry over Neil Magny. He notes Garry's rapid improvement, judo background, and takedown defense. He thinks Garry will pick at range, chop at the legs, and possibly finish early. He also mentions Magny taking the fight on short notice and at 170 lbs, which favors Garry. He predicts a first-round KO after leg kicks.

round one KO after leg kicks
"I think he smokes Neil Magnum round one after chewing up his leg for about three minutes"
TKO (head kick and punches) R1 2:57 · UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida · May 13, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 0 7 of 25 28% 7 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Daniel Rodriguez 1 23 of 46 50% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 7 of 25 28% 7 of 25 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Daniel Rodriguez 1 23 of 46 50% 23 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 7 of 25 28% 2 of 17 2 of 5 3 of 3 7 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Daniel Rodriguez 23 of 46 50% 19 of 42 4 of 4 0 of 0 12 of 28 0 of 0 11 of 18
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 7 of 25 28% 2 of 17 2 of 5 3 of 3 7 of 25 0 of 0 0 of 0
Daniel Rodriguez 23 of 46 50% 19 of 42 4 of 4 0 of 0 12 of 28 0 of 0 11 of 18
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean pick date unknown
Daniel Rodriguez

Angelo picks Daniel Rodriguez with low confidence, calling him a great striker especially when not worried about takedowns. He notes Ian Garry is hittable and keeps his head straight up. He says Rodriguez will be the best striker Garry has faced and that Garry may not recover from being tagged like he did against Kanaan. He is not betting on this fight.

"with no confidence at all I'm gonna pick Daniel Rodriguez it's a low confidence pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean pick date unknown
Daniel Rodriguez

Big Brady thinks this fight is closer than the odds suggest. He notes Garry's striking defense is a liability, citing past fights where he got hit clean. Brady believes Rodriguez has the durability and volume to make it competitive, and expects a 15-minute striking fight that goes to decision. He picks the dog Rodriguez to pull off the upset, but acknowledges the UFC likely wants Garry to win and corrupt judges may favor him. He calls laying -300 on Garry 'whack'.

goes to decision
"I'm gonna take the dog here and Danny Rodriguez to pull it off but I already know what's gonna happen I think d ross gonna make this super close it's gonna look like a super close fight and then the …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Lean pick date unknown
Daniel Rodriguez

Cody picks Rodriguez as a value underdog, despite low confidence. He notes Rodriguez's experience and volume, but acknowledges Garry's speed and potential. He thinks Rodriguez could expose Garry's defensive flaws, but is not confident enough to bet heavily. He calls it a 'value pick' and places it at the bottom of his confidence list.

"I'm gonna end up taking the dog Daniel Rodriguez but it would be the PRP pick like it would be all the way at the bottom the confidence level isn't quite there but it's a value pick and and I …"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Connor picks Garry, emphasizing his fast start and ability to build momentum. He notes that Garry's low kicks will be a problem for Rodriguez, who hasn't faced good kickers. He thinks Rodriguez will have moments and may hurt Garry, but Garry's consistency and movement will earn him the win. He also mentions Garry's jab and straight punches as key tools.

"I think this looks like a fight where Gary is just going to have the consistency of work. It's going to be a lot of targets to pick from."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Levi picks Ian Machado Garry, praising his confidence, striking volume, and well-rounded game. He notes that Garry has landed over 100 significant strikes in multiple fights and has knockdowns in three of his four UFC bouts. Levi believes Garry's speed and reach will be key, as Rodriguez does not have a reach or height advantage. He acknowledges Garry was dropped in his last fight but attributes that to facing a heavy hitter in Song Kenan, and notes that Rodriguez has also been dropped. Levi sees Garry winning a competitive fight, possibly even becoming the first to knock out Rodriguez.

possible first UFC knockout of Rodriguez; missed betting at -215/-225; would bet if line improves
"I'm going Ian Gary and I hope that all these people that were acting like it's red panty night that d-rod's a big dog put their money where their mouth is"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Garry is the better striker, using distance, kicks, and a one-two down the pipe to pick apart Rodriguez. He is 11 years younger and trains at Kill Cliff FC. He may also look to take the fight to the ground to avoid Rodriguez's power. The fight will resemble Garry's win over Gabe Green, with Garry landing more consistently and winning by decision. Rodriguez is a tough test but Garry's youth and skill should prevail.

"I think the Irishman is going to be able to come through here put on a good striking display and win this fight by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Paul picks Garry, noting his reach, technique, and cardio. He expects a close decision win for Garry, as Rodriguez doesn't have the skill set to expose him. He mentions adding Garry to a parlay at -250 but not a big play. He doubts Rodriguez's wrestling and believes Garry's speed and lateral movement will be key.

added to parlay at -250
"I think it's gonna be one of those things where the fight goes to decision and Ian Gary it's kind of you know very very close decision Ian Gary gets on the mic afterwards pretends that like you know he …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

The MMA Guru picks Ian Machado Garry, highlighting his diverse striking and leg kicks. He notes that Daniel Rodriguez is a boxing-heavy fighter who stands heavy on his lead leg, making him vulnerable to leg kicks. He believes Garry will overwhelm Rodriguez with a variety of attacks and predicts a 30-27 decision.

decision 30-27
"I'm gonna go with Ian Gary... I think he's going to chop up that leg and start out boxing him... I'm gonna go with Ian Gary getting this one by decision 30-27"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Zane picks Garry, citing his speed, footwork, and exceptional low kicking. He notes that Rodriguez is slow and has poor leg defense, and Garry's ability to build offense over time will be key. He acknowledges Rodriguez's counter-punching and durability but thinks Garry's consistency and volume will win out. He also mentions Garry's jab and low kicks as major advantages.

"I'm taking Gary still, but once again, it could be that prospect loss."
WIN vs Song Kenan
TKO (punches) R3 4:22 · UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane · Mar 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 1 127 of 231 54% 127 of 231 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Song Kenan 1 55 of 110 50% 61 of 120 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:44
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 15 of 44 34% 15 of 44 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Song Kenan 1 22 of 41 53% 28 of 51 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:44
2 Ian Machado Garry 0 42 of 79 53% 42 of 79 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Song Kenan 0 17 of 35 48% 17 of 35 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Ian Machado Garry 1 70 of 108 64% 70 of 108 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
Song Kenan 0 16 of 34 47% 16 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 127 of 231 54% 58 of 149 36 of 46 33 of 36 119 of 220 1 of 1 7 of 10
Song Kenan 55 of 110 50% 18 of 69 8 of 9 29 of 32 45 of 94 7 of 8 3 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 15 of 44 34% 3 of 27 3 of 7 9 of 10 15 of 44 0 of 0 0 of 0
Song Kenan 22 of 41 53% 9 of 26 2 of 2 11 of 13 13 of 26 6 of 7 3 of 8
2 Ian Machado Garry 42 of 79 53% 19 of 50 11 of 16 12 of 13 41 of 78 1 of 1 0 of 0
Song Kenan 17 of 35 48% 2 of 19 5 of 6 10 of 10 16 of 34 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Ian Machado Garry 70 of 108 64% 36 of 72 22 of 23 12 of 13 63 of 98 0 of 0 7 of 10
Song Kenan 16 of 34 47% 7 of 24 1 of 1 8 of 9 16 of 34 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Angelo is confident in Ian Garry, noting his hand speed, footwork, and takedown defense. He believes Garry should dominate Song Kenan, who has been away for two years and has poor wrestling. Angelo expects a finish, possibly by knockout.

Ian Garry inside the distance, Ian Garry by knockout
"Ian Gary should dominate this fight but it is interesting because you know Ian Gary I thought they were slowly leveling up his competition"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Big Brady is confident in Ian Garry, citing advantages in striking, speed, volume, and power. He notes Garry's wrestling and grappling are also strong, giving him multiple paths to victory. He mentions Song Kenan's two-year layoff and that he is smaller and older. He predicts a second-round knockout for Garry.

second round knockout
"I'll say like a second round knockout I'll say knocks out sunken on in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Cody picks Garry but notes he's not impressed with his performances. He thinks Garry's footwork and reach will be too much for Song Kenan, who is raw and has been off for two years. He expects Garry to win but won't bet the -800 moneyline.

Over 0.5 takedowns for Garry on PrizePicks; considers Garry by submission
"Ian Gary pretty much beats him wherever and a minus 800 lines telling you exactly that"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Connor confidently picks Ian Garry, noting that Garry is a huge welterweight with a reach advantage and superior technical striking. He believes Garry will be too busy and too long for Song Kenan, who relies on opponents rushing him. Connor also points out that Song Kenan has a shaky chin and has been knocked out by lesser strikers, so Garry's power and precision should lead to a finish.

Garry via TKO/KO is minus 120
"I expect fully that Gary's gonna knock him out."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Lock pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Jacob calls Ian Garry the biggest lock on the card, praising his clean striking, counter-striking, and ability to go three rounds. He believes Song Kenan lacks speed and that Garry will put him away early. Jacob is a big fan of Garry as a fighter despite his personality.

"I think Ian Gary is the biggest lock on this card"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Garry is a disciplined striker with good range management and a sneaky trip game. Song Kenan has been inactive for over two years and struggles against technically superior strikers. Garry will jab him up and likely get a second or third round stoppage.

Garry inside the distance
"I think that this could be one of those fights where he potentially goes out there and gets a finish... I think if you want to look for that one single bet for this fight it's probably looking for Gary …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Paul picks Garry but is more interested in props. He likes the over 0.5 takedowns for Garry on PrizePicks, thinking Garry may mix in takedowns to show improvement. He notes the -800 moneyline offers no value.

Over 0.5 takedowns for Ian Garry on PrizePicks
"over 0.5 takedowns is exploitable"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

The MMA Guru picks Ian Machado Garry to win by KO, citing Song Kenan's inactivity and multiple KO losses. He notes Garry's crisp hands and reach advantage, and believes Garry will finish him.

KO win predicted
"I'm gonna go with him winning this one over songkanan... I reckon he'll get a KO as well."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Zane also picks Garry confidently, agreeing that Garry's size, reach, and technical improvements make him a clear favorite. He notes that Song Kenan is a cautious, low-output fighter who needs opponents to make mistakes, but Garry is disciplined and will control the range. Zane expects Garry to win by knockout, as Song Kenan has been vulnerable to clean shots.

Garry via TKO/KO is minus 120
"I expect fully that Gary's gonna knock him out."
Geoff Neal - Fight History
LOSS vs Uroš Medić
KO R1 1:19 · UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez · Feb 21, 2026
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Geoff Neal 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Uroš Medić 1 10 of 19 52% 10 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Geoff Neal 0 3 of 10 30% 3 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Uroš Medić 1 10 of 19 52% 10 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Geoff Neal 3 of 10 30% 1 of 6 1 of 3 1 of 1 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Uroš Medić 10 of 19 52% 4 of 10 6 of 9 0 of 0 10 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Geoff Neal 3 of 10 30% 1 of 6 1 of 3 1 of 1 3 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
Uroš Medić 10 of 19 52% 4 of 10 6 of 9 0 of 0 10 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Angelo picks Geoff Neal despite recent knockout loss, citing his overall experience and well-rounded skill set. He acknowledges Uroš Medić's power and finishing ability but notes Medić's questionable chin. He is hesitant because Neal is 35 and coming off a KO, but believes Neal is the better fighter.

"Geoff Neal's going to be the pick."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Big Brady picks Geoff Neal to defeat Uroš Medić, citing Medić's suspect chin and Neal's heavy hands. He notes that Medić has been dropped by lesser punchers like Gilbert Urbina, while Neal hits like a truck. He predicts a first-round knockout, possibly requiring a stretcher for Medić. He acknowledges Neal was knocked out in his last fight but calls that a fluke spinning elbow that would KO most of the division.

Geoff Neal by first-round knockout
"I think Geoff Neal's going to hit Medich very hard and I'm just not sure Medich is going to be able to take it. I got to go Geoff Neal here to win and I'm going to take Geoff Neal …"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Cody buys into Neal's sobriety narrative and thinks this is his easiest fight in a while. He notes Medić is an under machine who either finishes or gets finished, and expects Neal to win by KO early. He recommends under 1.5 rounds.

under 1.5 rounds
"Neil's the pick for me, but give me unders. Fight doesn't go to decision as parlay pieces."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Connor picks Neal confidently, stating that Medić is a glass cannon who gets hurt easily and sells out on his shots, leaving him vulnerable to counters. He notes that Neal has been tested against much better competition and has always been competitive, while Medić's wins have aged poorly. He believes Neal's composure and athleticism will be too much for Medić.

Connor thinks the odds should be more like -400; Neal opened -180, now -212; Medić opened +155, now +182
"I'm going to be real honest. I think this should be like your plus minus 400 odds kind of fight."
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert pick date unknown

The host rules out betting on Neal due to red flags from an interview where Neal discussed past issues with drugs, alcohol, and diet, making him unreliable at -225. He is tempted by Medic as a +178 underdog, noting Medic's dynamic striking and power, but passes because Medic has slowed in past fights and Neal has excellent cardio. He concludes it's an easy pass on both sides.

Neal's lifestyle red flags; Medic's cardio concerns
"There is no [__] way that anyone with a brain can bet Jeff Neil after he has literally told you his diet might not be the best and he has issues with drugs slash alcohol."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

James picks Geoff Neal to win by first-round KO, citing Neal's experience against elite competition and the step down in competition for Medic. He notes that Medic is volatile and prone to getting knocked out early, and that Neal's power and boxing should be enough to finish him. James also likes the under 1.5 rounds and doesn't go to decision props.

under 1.5 rounds at -175, doesn't go to decision
"I will pick Jeff Neil to get it done via KO in round one."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Neal is a crafty striker with good power and range management, and he has fought tougher competition. Medic is a Muay Thai specialist but has durability issues and poor grappling defense. Neal should be able to land a big shot and finish Medic, likely in the first round. The line is fair given Neal's experience and home crowd.

"I think Neil wins pretty easily here and I think he gets the knockout."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Paul thinks Neal's step up in competition is significant and that Medić's chin is suspect. He notes Neal has fought top welterweights and held his own, while Medić has been knocked out by lesser opponents. He expects Neal to win by KO, possibly in the first round.

Neal by KO -133
"Neil Neil KO minus 133 any round minus 133. Yeah, looks like the way to go."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

The MMA Guru hesitantly picks Geoff Neal, despite concerns about his chin and motivation after a KO loss. He believes Medić makes mistakes and is explosive but can be caught coming in. He predicts Neal will find a way to put Medić away in round two after Medić expends his energy.

TKO round two
"I'm going to go with Geoff Neal by TKO round two."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Zane agrees with Connor, calling Medić a 'one hitter quitter' who is extremely vulnerable on the counter. He notes that Medić has no defense and gets hurt easily, even in fights he wins. He believes Neal is significantly better in the pocket and should be able to weather Medić's early power and then take over.

"I think Jeff Neil is significantly better and more composed in the pocket than Medic. If Jeff Neil doesn't absolutely dust rose Medic, then that'll be a huge shock."
LOSS vs Carlos Prates
KO R1 4:59 · UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev · Aug 16, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Geoff Neal 0 25 of 49 51% 26 of 50 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Carlos Prates 1 32 of 60 53% 32 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Geoff Neal 0 25 of 49 51% 26 of 50 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:15
Carlos Prates 1 32 of 60 53% 32 of 60 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Geoff Neal 25 of 49 51% 16 of 38 4 of 6 5 of 5 23 of 45 2 of 4 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 32 of 60 53% 17 of 45 8 of 8 7 of 7 32 of 58 0 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Geoff Neal 25 of 49 51% 16 of 38 4 of 6 5 of 5 23 of 45 2 of 4 0 of 0
Carlos Prates 32 of 60 53% 17 of 45 8 of 8 7 of 7 32 of 58 0 of 2 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
Geoff Neal vs. Carlos Prates
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Prates (-250), Neal (+205)

Round 1
Welcome to what many are considering the “just bleed” matchup of the evening. Two welterweight flamethrowers will throw down mightily, and referee Jason Herzog gets the honor of handling it personally. Fortis MMA athlete Neal (16-6, 8-4 UFC) and Fighting Nerds representative Prates (21-7, 4-1 UFC) meet with 26 knockouts across their 37 total victories, and one more could be coming soon. Before they try to lop one another’s head off, Herzog has to usher them back to their corners. Despite that, they bump their fists together cordially.
Prates bounces up and down in the center of the Octagon, and Neal leads off with an inside calf kick. Prates jabs him back, and Neal kicks to the same spot before going high. Neal crowds a kicking Prates but goes not let his hands go, instead resetting to score a short but powerful left hook. Prates spins with a back kick to the stomach and kicks him in the front leg when planting, and Neal bull-rushes him. Prates tries for a jump knee, and Neal catches it and fires back with his right hand a few times. Prates reclaims his limb and resets, where he goes high with punches. Neal jabs him to the body and makes Prates back off with long punches, while Prates scores a few hard calf kicks. Prates darts in and out with a jab, and Neal crowds him with punches before Prates circles all the way around the cage. Prates sinks a leg kick home, and he is out of the way before Neal can get to him.
Both men connect with single left hands before bailing, and Prates calms himself down and looses two punches down the middle along with a step-in knee. Neal fires back with a vengeance, landing at least partially on his opponent and kicking him in the chest. Neal jacks Prates in the jaw with a left hand, and Prates responds with a crisp left to the body and then a knee to the same spot. Some swelling develops under Neal’s left eye, and Prates notices it and aims a spinning wheel kick at it. The kick pops off the guard, but Prates’ jab finds its target. Neal does not seem concerned, cracking Prates on the way in. Prates gathers a head of steam and loose a one-two, a body kick, a knee, two more punches and a jumping knee in one heck of a combination. Neal grabs him at the end of it to turn him to the cage, and Prates makes fun of him for trying to wrestle. Neal lets him go, and Prates blasts him with punches and chases him around the cage with an elbow strike. With seconds left on the clock, the Brazilian spins like a top and demolishes Neal with a spinning back elbow. The sound of the blow echoes through the United Center, and blood sprays from an open wound on the side of his temple. Herzog waves the fight off with a second to go on the clock, and Prates has bounced back from a tough loss with a spectacular knockout of an insanely durable Neal. On his post-fight interview, Prates gives it up for the Fighting Nerds team, remarks that he will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow, asks for a fight in Rio de Janeiro in October along with a post-fight bonus—which UFC chief Dana White grants both immediately—and pitches that the UFC sign up his training partner, LFA flyweight champ Marcos Degli.

The Official Result
Carlos Prates def. Geoff Neal R1 4:59 via KO (Spinning Back Elbow)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

Angelo thinks Prates is the better striker with power, accuracy, and cardio, and expects a striking match. He notes Neal may shoot takedowns but Prates should be ready. He hopes for a showcase performance from Prates to build him back up after his loss to Ian Garry.

"Carlos should win here. I think he's the better striker. There should be mostly striking going on here."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

Big Brady picks Carlos Prates to win by first-round knockout. He notes Prates has long reach, power, and fast combinations, and when he gets going he is very dangerous. He worries about Prates' slow starts but thinks Neal will force him to engage. He mentions Prates' brutal knockouts of Trevin Giles and others. He doesn't love the moneyline but thinks Prates can knock out Neal, who has a solid chin but can be hit.

Prates by KO, round 1
"I'm going to take Pches to win this fight. I'm going to take him to win this fight by first round knockout."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

Connor picks Prates, but with hesitation, acknowledging that Prates' game is limited and not built for elite competition, as seen in the Ian Garry fight. He notes that Neal is durable and will make it tough, but Prates' pressure and dangerous striking could overwhelm Neal, who tends to let opponents dictate the fight. Connor hopes Prates has learned from the Garry fight and can implement adjustments.

Neal opened at +330, currently +190; Prates opened at -400, currently -225
"I'm going to pick Prates just cause I'm not going to fall off the bandwagon. And I think this is a winnable fight."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

The host views Neal as underrated and tough, and believes his speed and explosiveness will allow him to land big shots on Prates throughout the fight. He expects Neal to win on the scorecards as the underdog.

"I think the speed and explosivity of Neil will allow him to land big shots on Proches throughout the 15 minutes here"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Carlos Prates

The Guru picks Carlos Prates to finish Geoff Neal, citing Prates' lateral movement and ability to find outside foot position. He notes that Neal struggles against fighters who move side-to-side, as seen in his fight with Neil Magny. The Guru believes Prates will land knees up the middle and finish Neal in the late first or second round. He also mentions that Prates nearly finished Ian Garry and has shown finishing ability against stationary opponents.

Late first round or second round finish; knees up the middle
"I think we're going to see this get a little bit scrappy. And I actually think we're going to see this end up being a Carlos Pres late first round or second round finish over Jeff Neil."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Lean pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Zane is tempted to pick Neal, noting that Neal is durable, fast, and has a limited but effective game against elite opponents. He points out that Prates struggles with complex problems and has never faced a fellow southpaw. Zane believes Neal could pressure Prates and win rounds with his boxing and durability, but he is not fully confident due to Neal's tendency to let opponents dictate the fight.

Neal opened at +330, currently +190; Prates opened at -400, currently -225
"I'm tempted to take Geoff Neal. I think there's a bad version of this fight where Jeff Neil still makes it tough and might just take the rounds."
CANCEL vs Carlos Prates
TKO (knee injury) R1 1:30 · UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway · Oct 26, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Geoff Neal 1 18 of 30 60% 21 of 34 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:27
Rafael dos Anjos 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Geoff Neal 1 18 of 30 60% 21 of 34 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:27
Rafael dos Anjos 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Geoff Neal 18 of 30 60% 12 of 24 3 of 3 3 of 3 13 of 24 0 of 0 5 of 6
Rafael dos Anjos 4 of 13 30% 2 of 10 1 of 1 1 of 2 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Geoff Neal 18 of 30 60% 12 of 24 3 of 3 3 of 3 13 of 24 0 of 0 5 of 6
Rafael dos Anjos 4 of 13 30% 2 of 10 1 of 1 1 of 2 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Angelo picks Geoff Neal but is not confident enough to bet. He notes Neal is younger, has good takedown defense and hands, and should win if the fight stays standing. However, he acknowledges RDA could get takedowns and grind out a decision. He will leave this fight alone due to the risk.

Will leave this fight alone; no bet.
"I think Jeff Neil wins... but I just don't have the nuts to bet on him."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Big Brady strongly favors Neal, calling it a bad matchup for RDA. He notes that RDA struggles at welterweight against bigger guys and that Neal has elite takedown defense (87%). He believes Neal is the much better striker with more power and that RDA won't be able to take him down. He predicts Neal wins by decision, stuffing takedowns and doing better work on the feet.

"give me Jeff Neil here I think he wins this fight by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Rafael dos Anjos

Cody leans toward Rafael dos Anjos as an underdog, noting that RDA's wrestling and cardio could neutralize Neal's striking. He points out that Neal has struggled against wrestlers like Neil Magny, and that RDA's takedown-heavy approach could frustrate Neal. However, Cody is hesitant because RDA is 40 and has lost to superior grapplers. He suggests a small play or pass.

"I feel like I'm leaning Rd but I feel like that's also a bad pick"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Connor picks Neal, agreeing that RDA at welterweight is not the same bully. He notes that RDA's game relies on being a physical bully, which he can't do at welterweight, and that Neal is capable of putting together moments of offense that win rounds. Connor also mentions that RDA is almost 40 and has a lot of mileage.

"And that is kind of my core read here against Jeff Neil is that RDA might have a lot of success running his kind of game against Jeff Neil. But if I have to think who is capable of putting …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Daniel Vreeland picks Geoff Neal to win, citing significant advantages in size, speed, and youth. He notes that Neal has faced much larger opponents recently and that RDA is a smaller fighter who may struggle with Neal's reach and takedown defense. Vreeland acknowledges Neal's inconsistency but believes this is a favorable matchup.

"give me Jeff me"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Daniel Vreeland picks Neal, citing his size, youth, and recent competition against top welterweights. He notes that RDA's wrestling has dropped off significantly, giving up 19 takedowns in his last two fights. Vreeland believes Neal's speed and game plan will be too much for the aging RDA.

"give me the much bigger much younger hands of Steel Jeff Neil"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Jeff Fox also picks Neal, emphasizing RDA's declining wrestling. He notes that Neal has sneaky good wrestling and that RDA's takedown defense has worsened. Fox expects Neal to be faster on the feet and implement a better game plan.

higher than 64.5 significant strikes for Neal (Underdog fantasy pick)
"Jeff Neil gonna be faster on the feet going to put together a better game plan here uh I'll take him in this one"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Welterweight is not the best weight class for dos Anjos, and Neal should stop his takedowns and utilize his striking advantage. It wouldn't surprise me if Neal knocks dos Anjos out, but I lean with Neal winning on the scorecards.

Neal wins by decision (lean); possible knockout
"ultimately lean with Neil winning this fight on the scorecards"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Paul picks Geoff Neal, believing his reach and boxing will keep the fight standing. He notes that RDA's wrestling has not been as effective at welterweight against bigger opponents. Paul thinks Neal can stuff takedowns and use his length to outpoint RDA. He is not highly confident but leans Neal.

"I will not be getting to RDA"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

The Guru picks Geoff Neal by TKO in the second round, arguing that Rafael dos Anjos at 39 is outmatched physically. He notes Neal's size, power, and takedown defense (citing the Belal Muhammad fight) will be too much for RDA. He believes RDA's only path is to brawl in the pocket, which favors Neal. The Guru predicts a vicious finish, possibly ending RDA's career.

TKO second round
"I'll say second round TKO for Geoff Neal potentially in the first though I can see a real nasty finish."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Zane clearly favored Neal, describing the fight as a 'sad days fight' for RDA. He noted that RDA's game of physical bullying and pressure doesn't work at welterweight because guys are too big and hit too hard. Zane pointed out that RDA got crushed by the first shot and blew out his knee, calling it an old man way to lose. He praised Neal's performance but remains skeptical about Neal's title prospects.

"jeff neil hafel dos angeles another real sad days fight um i don't i've never liked rda at welter weight"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Zane picks Neal because RDA at welterweight is not the same relentless pressure fighter he was at lightweight; he's more reluctant to apply pressure and gets hit harder. Neal is a puncher who can keep his output up and win rounds, even if he gets stalled for one. Zane notes that RDA's wrestling is deteriorating and he's almost 40.

"So yeah, take it, Neil. Same. But, uh, it's a good fight. Like it is, it is a fight where if RDA can get Neil down, he might just be able to like, to sub him out, you know, he's …"
Decision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria · Feb 17, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Ian Machado Garry 0 46 of 89 51% 57 of 102 0 of 0 --- 0 0 3:45
Geoff Neal 0 67 of 135 49% 80 of 148 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:12
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Ian Machado Garry 0 18 of 27 66% 19 of 28 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:10
Geoff Neal 0 20 of 38 52% 22 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
2 Ian Machado Garry 0 17 of 34 50% 23 of 41 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:20
Geoff Neal 0 23 of 43 53% 31 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
3 Ian Machado Garry 0 11 of 28 39% 15 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:15
Geoff Neal 0 24 of 54 44% 27 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Ian Machado Garry 46 of 89 51% 25 of 64 10 of 13 11 of 12 38 of 79 8 of 10 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 67 of 135 49% 39 of 96 18 of 27 10 of 12 65 of 133 2 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Ian Machado Garry 18 of 27 66% 11 of 20 2 of 2 5 of 5 16 of 25 2 of 2 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 20 of 38 52% 10 of 24 7 of 10 3 of 4 20 of 38 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Ian Machado Garry 17 of 34 50% 10 of 24 4 of 6 3 of 4 11 of 26 6 of 8 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 23 of 43 53% 16 of 34 5 of 7 2 of 2 22 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
3 Ian Machado Garry 11 of 28 39% 4 of 20 4 of 5 3 of 3 11 of 28 0 of 0 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 24 of 54 44% 13 of 38 6 of 10 5 of 6 23 of 53 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Angelo picks Ian Garry, citing his superior striking, hand speed, and footwork. He notes Garry is hittable but believes he can control range and avoid Neal's power. He plans to bet Geoff Neal inside the distance decision no action, as Neal is durable and has finishing upside. He is rooting for Neal but thinks Garry wins.

Geoff Neal wins inside distance (decision no action)
"I do think Ian Gary wins though but he's not going to be anywhere near my safety parlay"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Big Brady picks Geoff Neal as a dog to win by second-round knockout. He notes Gary's poor striking defense (53%) and history of getting dropped, while Neal has heavy hands (nicknamed 'Hands of Steel'). He acknowledges Gary is likely winning minutes but believes Neal's power gives him a live chance to land a big shot. He mentions Neal's past health issues but thinks if he's healthy, he can knock Gary out.

Neal by KO, round 2
"I'm actually G to take Jeff Neil here as a dog I'm gonna take Jeff Neil to to land a big shot and knock out and Gary here I'll say he knocks him out in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Cody picks Garry, emphasizing his speed and range management. He notes Neal is a one-dimensional boxer who struggles with lateral movement, as seen against Wonderboy. He expects Garry to use his jab and footwork to outpoint Neal, though he acknowledges Neal's power. He dislikes Garry's persona but believes he wins on volume.

"I think he wins more often than none on volume so could he clip Neil and put him away yeah but I think probably a decision stay to the outside pitter patter stay smart..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Vreeland picks Ian Machado Garry, citing his cleaner technical striking, better distance management, and superior striking defense. He notes Garry's leg kick heavy game plan against Magny (43/43 leg kicks) and believes Neal's hot-and-cold form since his near-death experience makes him unreliable. He also mentions Garry's takedown defense and five-round experience.

"I'm picking Ian Gary here... I think he's overall a cleaner technical striker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Neal is a deadly combination striker with power. He can close the pocket and exchange with Garry, opening a knockout opportunity. Garry relies on length and reach, but Neal's experience and technical advantages lead to a second-round KO.

"I think he can pull go out there and pull off the upset with a second round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Paul picks Garry despite wanting him to lose due to his persona. He notes Garry's length, technical striking, and ability to stay at range. He thinks Neal is one-dimensional and struggles with mobile strikers, as seen in the Wonderboy fight. He expects Garry to outpoint Neal with volume and lateral movement, though he acknowledges Neal's power threat.

"the pick's going to be Gary I don't I I I want him to lose though so I I know you're not supposed to let your emotions get in the way of money but it's like I would feel dirty …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

The MMA Guru picks Geoff Neal, citing Ian Garry's vulnerability to being caught on the chin and his lack of KO power in the UFC. He notes Garry's short reach for his height and his recent camp disruptions. He believes Neal's high guard and toughness will allow him to survive and land hooks, predicting a late round one or round two KO.

"I'm going Jeff Neal... you can't get dropped by Tekashi Sato and expect me not to pick Jeff Neal to finish you off."
Submission (rear-naked choke) R3 4:17 · UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane · Mar 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 69 of 145 47% 69 of 145 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:12
Geoff Neal 0 113 of 179 63% 120 of 186 0 of 4 0% 1 0 3:43
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 29 of 54 53% 29 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:48
Geoff Neal 0 43 of 64 67% 46 of 67 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:37
2 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 20 of 57 35% 20 of 57 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:24
Geoff Neal 0 35 of 70 50% 35 of 70 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:51
3 Shavkat Rakhmonov 0 20 of 34 58% 20 of 34 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Geoff Neal 0 35 of 45 77% 39 of 49 0 of 2 0% 1 0 2:15
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Shavkat Rakhmonov 69 of 145 47% 63 of 136 4 of 6 2 of 3 57 of 129 12 of 16 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 113 of 179 63% 69 of 130 39 of 44 5 of 5 74 of 131 39 of 48 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Shavkat Rakhmonov 29 of 54 53% 27 of 51 1 of 1 1 of 2 23 of 47 6 of 7 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 43 of 64 67% 26 of 44 17 of 20 0 of 0 32 of 50 11 of 14 0 of 0
2 Shavkat Rakhmonov 20 of 57 35% 18 of 53 1 of 3 1 of 1 19 of 55 1 of 2 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 35 of 70 50% 20 of 54 13 of 14 2 of 2 25 of 56 10 of 14 0 of 0
3 Shavkat Rakhmonov 20 of 34 58% 18 of 32 2 of 2 0 of 0 15 of 27 5 of 7 0 of 0
Geoff Neal 35 of 45 77% 23 of 32 9 of 10 3 of 3 17 of 25 18 of 20 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Angelo is confident in Shavkat Rakhmonov, calling him an absolute savage who can submit, knock out, or outwrestle opponents. He notes that Rakhmonov is on a different level and should get the job done. Angelo thinks -500 is fine for parlays.

"I love shaft cat here I think he's on an entirely different level I think he does what he wants I think he gets it done"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Big Brady picks Shavkat Rakhmonov, citing his size, power, and submission game. He notes Neal has good takedown defense but was taken down by Neil Magny, and Rakhmonov is a better wrestler. He predicts a second-round submission for Rakhmonov, but acknowledges if the fight stays standing, it gets interesting.

second round submission
"I like shopkop by submission... I'll say second round submission win for shot rockmanov"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Cody is high on Rakhmonov, calling him 'the truth' and praising his well-rounded game, clinch work, and finishing ability. He thinks Neal's power is a threat but that Rakhmonov's grappling and fight IQ will be too much. He expects Rakhmonov to win but is unsure if he finishes Neal.

Over 1.5 takedowns for Rakhmonov; considers inside the distance but not confident
"I think he's the truth and he's extremely well-rounded"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Connor picks Rakhmonov confidently, noting Neal's limited toolkit (left hand, left kick) and inability to adjust. He expects Rakhmonov to use his creativity and clinch work to overwhelm Neal, who will likely run into clinches where Rakhmonov can wrestle and land strikes. He acknowledges Neal's toughness and power but sees the matchup as stylistically poor for Neal.

Mentions Rakhmonov opened at -435, now -528; Neal +350 to +378.
"It's hard not to see Rakhmonov just sort of ending up in a winning position at some point."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Jacob is confident in Shavkat Rakhmonov, noting that his toughest test on paper was Neil Magny, whom he dominated. He believes Rakhmonov is too rangy and skilled for Geoff Neal, who relies on power. Jacob expects a first or second round finish.

first or second round finish
"I think it's a first or second second round finish"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Rakhmonov is a pressure grappler with a 100% finish rate. Neal is a good striker but has struggled against pressure grapplers. Rakhmonov will take the fight to the ground and submit Neal. The fight doesn't go to decision.

fight doesn't go to decision, Rakhmonov by submission
"fight doesn't go to the decision is going to be my favorite spot for this matchup... I'm still going to end up going with the shot Cat Rock one outside to win this fight via submission"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Paul agrees with Cody that Rakhmonov is the truth and expects him to win. He notes Neal's takedown defense is good but thinks Rakhmonov is a different level. He likes the over 1.5 takedowns prop for Rakhmonov.

Over 1.5 takedowns for Rakhmonov (-155)
"I think shop costs the truth won't be backing Neil"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

The MMA Guru picks Shavkat Rakhmonov, despite noting the odds are too wide. He questions Neal's recent performances and believes Rakhmonov's wild style and grappling will be too much, though he acknowledges Neal's KO power.

Comments on odds being too wide
"I'm gonna go with shav cat rachmanov... I do not agree that he should be a six to one favorite here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident pick date unknown
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Zane agrees, highlighting Neal's predictability and lack of adaptability. He notes Rakhmonov's willingness to experiment and clinch, and that Neal's straight-line entries will lead to clinches where Rakhmonov can dominate. He sees Neal's only path as an early knockout, but Rakhmonov's size and confidence make that unlikely.

"Neil will also lead himself to the clinch. He's going to get wrestled in the clinch."
WIN vs Vicente Luque
KO (punches) R3 2:01 · UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill · Aug 06, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Geoff Neal 0 97 of 203 47% 97 of 203 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Vicente Luque 2 121 of 211 57% 125 of 215 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:47
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Geoff Neal 0 30 of 80 37% 30 of 80 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Vicente Luque 1 52 of 93 55% 53 of 94 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:07
2 Geoff Neal 0 51 of 91 56% 51 of 91 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Vicente Luque 0 40 of 75 53% 43 of 78 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:40
3 Geoff Neal 0 16 of 32 50% 16 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Vicente Luque 1 29 of 43 67% 29 of 43 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Geoff Neal 97 of 203 47% 56 of 156 26 of 31 15 of 16 91 of 195 6 of 8 0 of 0
Vicente Luque 121 of 211 57% 113 of 202 5 of 6 3 of 3 103 of 186 17 of 22 1 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Geoff Neal 30 of 80 37% 20 of 67 8 of 10 2 of 3 29 of 79 1 of 1 0 of 0
Vicente Luque 52 of 93 55% 48 of 89 3 of 3 1 of 1 49 of 87 2 of 3 1 of 3
2 Geoff Neal 51 of 91 56% 28 of 68 15 of 15 8 of 8 46 of 85 5 of 6 0 of 0
Vicente Luque 40 of 75 53% 36 of 70 2 of 3 2 of 2 33 of 66 7 of 9 0 of 0
3 Geoff Neal 16 of 32 50% 8 of 21 3 of 6 5 of 5 16 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0
Vicente Luque 29 of 43 67% 29 of 43 0 of 0 0 of 0 21 of 33 8 of 10 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Vicente Luque

Angelo picks Vicente Luque, believing this will be a striking match since Geoff Neal rarely wrestles. He favors Luque's better striking differential, cleaner footwork, speed, and higher volume. He acknowledges Luque's grappling holes but doesn't think Neal will exploit them. He is pretty confident in Luque to get the win.

"strike for strike i like lucay to win not only does he have better striking differential but he's got cleaner footwork better speed and higher volume"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident pick date unknown
Vicente Luque

Big Brady picks Vicente Luque, citing his durability, chin, and willingness to brawl. He notes that Geoff Neal has looked off in his last three fights and may not be the same killer he was earlier in his UFC run. He believes Luque's submission game is dangerous if the fight goes to the mat, and that Neal's takedown defense is good but he is unlikely to wrestle. He predicts a competitive decision win for Luque, though he acknowledges Neal's power and the possibility of a finish.

decision win prediction
"i think luke does win this one i'm going to say by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Vicente Luque

Cody also picks Luque, citing his volume, footwork, and ability to work the body and legs. He notes that Luque is hittable but durable, and that Neal hasn't knocked anyone out since Mike Perry three years ago. Cody believes Luque's sharpness and output will be too much for Neal, who has looked unmotivated in recent losses.

Luque by decision (suggested at +625)
"I'm going to take Luque as well... he's got excellent footwork... I gotta go with Luque by decision because I do think Jeff Neal's super durable."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Daniel Levi picks Geoff Neal as an underdog, believing the southpaw stance will neutralize Luque's calf kicks and open up liver kicks. He thinks Neal's speed and footwork can frustrate Luque, and if Neal is truly healthy again, he can win a decision or even score a knockout. Levi acknowledges Luque's power and finishing ability but likes the plus-155 price and sees this as a fight that could go either way.

Bet 2 units on Neal at +155; expects decision but open to KO
"I took the plus 155 odds on Jeff Neal I put two units on it"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident pick date unknown
Vicente Luque

Paul picks Luque, noting that Luque has more ways to win and is historically durable. He mentions that Luque hasn't landed a takedown since 2017 but is a great grappler in scrambles. Paul thinks Luque wins about 65-70% of the time and will wait for a better price. He also notes that Neal has looked unmotivated in recent fights.

Luque by decision (suggested at +625)
"I like Vicente Luque... he's got more options more ways to win this fight... I think Luque wins probably around 65 70 percent."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

The MMA Guru picks Geoff Neal as an underdog by 29-28 decision. He thinks Luque takes too long to get going in three-rounders and Neal's power will earn respect. He believes Neal can keep range and avoid brawling, similar to how Randy Brown and Nico Price had success. He predicts Neal wins the first round clearly, edges the second, and survives the third.

"i'm gonna go with jeff neal... i think luke takes too long to get going in three-rounders and neil's got a power that will make luke respect him"
Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC 269: Oliveira vs. Poirier · Dec 11, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Geoff Neal 0 85 of 161 52% 86 of 162 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Santiago Ponzinibbio 0 91 of 229 39% 91 of 229 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:23
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Geoff Neal 0 20 of 41 48% 21 of 42 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Santiago Ponzinibbio 0 26 of 63 41% 26 of 63 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Geoff Neal 0 19 of 47 40% 19 of 47 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Santiago Ponzinibbio 0 26 of 73 35% 26 of 73 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:23
3 Geoff Neal 0 46 of 73 63% 46 of 73 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Santiago Ponzinibbio 0 39 of 93 41% 39 of 93 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Geoff Neal 85 of 161 52% 73 of 145 5 of 9 7 of 7 85 of 161 0 of 0 0 of 0
Santiago Ponzinibbio 91 of 229 39% 62 of 195 12 of 17 17 of 17 90 of 228 1 of 1 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Geoff Neal 20 of 41 48% 13 of 33 2 of 3 5 of 5 20 of 41 0 of 0 0 of 0
Santiago Ponzinibbio 26 of 63 41% 17 of 54 5 of 5 4 of 4 25 of 62 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Geoff Neal 19 of 47 40% 16 of 41 2 of 5 1 of 1 19 of 47 0 of 0 0 of 0
Santiago Ponzinibbio 26 of 73 35% 15 of 61 4 of 5 7 of 7 26 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Geoff Neal 46 of 73 63% 44 of 71 1 of 1 1 of 1 46 of 73 0 of 0 0 of 0
Santiago Ponzinibbio 39 of 93 41% 30 of 80 3 of 7 6 of 6 39 of 93 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Big Brady picks Geoff Neal to win by knockout, but with low confidence due to Neal's recent DUI and gun possession arrest. He notes that Neal has a power advantage and reach advantage over Ponzinibbio, who is 35 and coming off a layoff and a knockout loss. However, Neal's preparation is a major concern. Brady says if Neal shows up focused, he has a good chance, but he is not sure the fight will even happen.

Neal by knockout in round 1
"i'll take neil to get the win i think a lot of people are counting them out i definitely understand why but i don't take neil to get the knockout here in the first round"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident pick date unknown
Santiago Ponzinibbio

Daniel Levi picks Santiago Ponzinibbio to win a war of attrition. He notes that both fighters nearly died from medical issues, but Ponzinibbio looked better in his last fight against Miguel Baeza, shaking off rust. Levi questions whether Geoff Neal has recovered from his sepsis and heart failure, citing poor performances against Wonderboy and Neil Magny. He believes Ponzinibbio's jab, straight right, calf kicks, and takedown defense will be too much. Levi expects Ponzinibbio to be more aggressive and meaner.

"give me santiago ponzinibio to win a war of attrition here once again"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Neal is the more technical striker and will counter Ponzinibbio's aggressive pressure effectively. Ponzinibbio has defensive flaws and is hittable, especially against a counter-striker. Neal's straight right and speed should find the mark, and a knockout is possible. The underdog odds provide value.

by KO
"i'm going jeff neal again a couple contrarian picks compared to what i've been seeing out there recently but i feel decent about it here in jeff know especially at these underdog odds"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Santiago Ponzinibbio

The MMA Guru picks Santiago Ponzinibbio to win by decision, citing his experience, technical striking, and ability to pressure. He notes that Geoff Neal had a troubled training camp (jail time) and has shown vulnerability against pressure fighters. He predicts Ponzinibbio will win 30-27.

30-27 decision win
"i'm going to go with santiago ponzibio here over jeff neal um i was picking ponzinio anyway more experienced better technically on the feet"
Expert Picks (7)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Angelo picks Ian Garry, citing his superior striking, hand speed, and footwork. He notes Garry is hittable but believes he can control range and avoid Neal's power. He plans to bet Geoff Neal inside the distance decision no action, as Neal is durable and has finishing upside. He is rooting for Neal but thinks Garry wins.

Geoff Neal wins inside distance (decision no action)
"I do think Ian Gary wins though but he's not going to be anywhere near my safety parlay"
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Big Brady picks Geoff Neal as a dog to win by second-round knockout. He notes Gary's poor striking defense (53%) and history of getting dropped, while Neal has heavy hands (nicknamed 'Hands of Steel'). He acknowledges Gary is likely winning minutes but believes Neal's power gives him a live chance to land a big shot. He mentions Neal's past health issues but thinks if he's healthy, he can knock Gary out.

Neal by KO, round 2
"I'm actually G to take Jeff Neil here as a dog I'm gonna take Jeff Neil to to land a big shot and knock out and Gary here I'll say he knocks him out in the second round"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Cody picks Garry, emphasizing his speed and range management. He notes Neal is a one-dimensional boxer who struggles with lateral movement, as seen against Wonderboy. He expects Garry to use his jab and footwork to outpoint Neal, though he acknowledges Neal's power. He dislikes Garry's persona but believes he wins on volume.

"I think he wins more often than none on volume so could he clip Neil and put him away yeah but I think probably a decision stay to the outside pitter patter stay smart..."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Daniel Vreeland picks Ian Machado Garry, citing his cleaner technical striking, better distance management, and superior striking defense. He notes Garry's leg kick heavy game plan against Magny (43/43 leg kicks) and believes Neal's hot-and-cold form since his near-death experience makes him unreliable. He also mentions Garry's takedown defense and five-round experience.

"I'm picking Ian Gary here... I think he's overall a cleaner technical striker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

Neal is a deadly combination striker with power. He can close the pocket and exchange with Garry, opening a knockout opportunity. Garry relies on length and reach, but Neal's experience and technical advantages lead to a second-round KO.

"I think he can pull go out there and pull off the upset with a second round knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant pick date unknown
Ian Machado Garry

Paul picks Garry despite wanting him to lose due to his persona. He notes Garry's length, technical striking, and ability to stay at range. He thinks Neal is one-dimensional and struggles with mobile strikers, as seen in the Wonderboy fight. He expects Garry to outpoint Neal with volume and lateral movement, though he acknowledges Neal's power threat.

"the pick's going to be Gary I don't I I I want him to lose though so I I know you're not supposed to let your emotions get in the way of money but it's like I would feel dirty having a Gary in one of my tickets."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident pick date unknown
Geoff Neal

The MMA Guru picks Geoff Neal, citing Ian Garry's vulnerability to being caught on the chin and his lack of KO power in the UFC. He notes Garry's short reach for his height and his recent camp disruptions. He believes Neal's high guard and toughness will allow him to survive and land hooks, predicting a late round one or round two KO.

"I'm going Jeff Neal... you can't get dropped by Tekashi Sato and expect me not to pick Jeff Neal to finish you off."