Geoff Neal

Geoffrey Charles Neal, born on August 28, 1990, in Austin, Texas, is an American professional mixed martial artist known by his nickname “Handz of Steel.” Neal began his amateur MMA career in 2010, accumulating a 6-1 record before transitioning to professional fighting in 2012. He trained at Fortis MMA under coach Sayif Saud and holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Before his full-time commitment to fighting, Neal maintained a part-time job as a server at Texas Roadhouse for ten years, periodically returning to the role when fight schedules were uncertain. This work ethic underscores his sustained career progression.

Neal’s career highlights include his entry into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) after a victory at Dana White’s Contender Series 3 in July 2017, where he secured a first-round TKO against Chase Waldon. His professional UFC debut was on February 18, 2018, where he defeated Brian Camozzi via submission. Throughout his UFC tenure, Neal has maintained an active presence in the welterweight division. Notable victories include a knockout against Frank Camacho at UFC 228 in September 2018, a unanimous decision win over Belal Muhammad in January 2019, and a TKO performance against Niko Price at UFC 240 in July 2019, which earned him a Performance of the Night award. He also secured a TKO victory over Mike Perry at UFC 245 in December 2019 and a split decision against Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 269 in December 2021.

Despite facing significant health challenges in August 2020, including septic shock, congestive heart, and kidney failure, Neal returned to competition. His resilience was further demonstrated with a knockout win over Vicente Luque at UFC on ESPN 40 in August 2022, earning another Performance of the Night award. In October 2024, he secured a TKO victory against Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 308. Neal has faced tough opponents, including losses to Stephen Thompson, Neil Magny, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, and Carlos Prates, solidifying his position as a competitive force in the welterweight division.