Geoff Neal reacts to his split decision loss to Ian Machado Garry at UFC 298, promises “never to give another lackluster performance” again.
Geoff Neal certainly didn’t have the career-defining performance that he hoped for against Ian Machado Garry, but all the signs were there that ‘Handz of Steel’ can remain a bonified threat to anyone in the Top 10 of the welterweight division.
Reacting to his split decision defeat at UFC 298, Neal posted a ‘giant letter L’ on his social media channels, stating that whilst he didn’t have the output to earn a ‘W’, he’ll never give another lackluster performance again.
Geoff Neal reacts to split decision loss to Ian Machado Garry
Geoff Neal was just one judge’s scorecard away from delivering the first professional loss of Ian Machado Garry’s career but agrees with the consensus that he didn’t do enough to win the contest.
Sharing his reaction to the fight on social media, Neal said “Regardless of anything I lost, [I] didn’t do enough” in the face of Garry’s constant attacks from the outside.
“[I] Promise to never give another lack luster performance like that again.”
The welterweight contender slipped down the UFC rankings to #9 following the loss at UFC 298 but will be hoping to get back into the win column later in 2024 adding that “I’m back on the grind Monday.”
UFC commentator Jon Anik commented on the ‘giant L’ post with three simple words of encouragement: “Always a believer.”
The response from the fanbase was similarly encouraging, many of which were replies such as “That’s why you the man”, “I’d rather be you at the end of those three rounds”, “I thought you won that fight brother,” “I was rooting for you from Kazakhstan,” and “ENERGY! Keep going champ,”
‘Handz of Steal’ is now on a two-fight losing streak and is 2-4 in his last six fights, all of which have been against world-class talent such as Shavkat Rakhmonov, Neil Magny, and Stephen Thompson.
Neal’s next fight will likely be down the rankings, so who could be his next potential opponent?
#10 Vicente Luque is set to face Joaquin Buckley in March, #11 Jack Della Maddalena fights #4 Gilbert Burns in April, and #13 Kevin Holland welcomes Michael Page to the UFC in March.
The only fighters ranked below Neal who are currently without an opponent are #12 Neil Magny, #14 Michael Chiesa, and #15 Rinat Fakhretdinov.
Magny defeated Neal via unanimous decision in 2021.