Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal face off tonight (Saturday, December 19, 2020) in a main event Welterweight Clash from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada to UFC Vegas 17. Although a replacement for the original main event of Leon Edwards vs. . Khamzat Chimaev, tonight’s main event remains an essential 170-kilogram clash with implications for the title. Thompson will seek to throw the label of guardian and reaffirm himself in the image of the title, while Neal aims to continue his gains in the Octagon and score the biggest scalp in his career.
Stephen Thompson once again proved himself on several levels in front of a talented rising and coming Welterweight. Even after a head-on collision cut him off and an injured leg slowed him down, Thompson dominated largely to get two straight wins.
Round one
Thompson opens with a good small inside shot, then countered when Neal tried to pull back. Thompson moves well, sticks a left hand. Neal finds his first connection to the fight after supporting his enemy in the fence. 1-2 from “Wonderboy”, followed by another clear jab. The back kick is hard to come back to the middle of the section for Thompson. “Wonderboy” hands look SHARP! Neal cannot follow his opponent with 90 seconds left in the round. The two heads of the collision and both men are cut off. Thompson concludes a dominating round with a low speed shot.
Round two
Thompson lands a few early shots. Neal explodes in a good left hand and tries to turn it into a body removal. “Wonderboy” defends himself and escapes, although he eats some fists. Clear right hand and Thompson’s body shot. The body shot and the header partially score for Thompson. Neal hits his body well, carries a cross in his stomach. Thompson returns to the fence, lands another suit, then disappears before his enemy can land. Neal gets a few good shots, but all of his shots are very short, while Thompson lands on all targets. Neal finally lands some good left in the final seconds of the round, but it’s far from enough to win back the round.
Round three
Thompson opened with a quick series of shots and a stiff cross. Neal just misses with a big shot. Uppercut from Thompson, followed by a long shot. Neal pushes his enemy into the fence, but is unable to land anything too significant before catching himself. Thompson is close to getting a big, clean shot, then he hits several shots. Neal marks with a straight hook along the fence. Hard jab of the “Wonderboy”. Neal is missing a good jab at the end of a combo. He finds better success with more aggression. Header and 1-2 score for Thompson. The two trades hit, and Neal finds a good job by the bell.
Round the father
Thompson’s clean right hand begins the round. Neal misses a good shot. Another. Rigid side kicks for Thompson. “Wonderboy” hits the middle section, and the two end briefly. Thompson’s right hand seems to shake his enemy for a moment. Neal lands on the left, eats an elbow. Thompson’s knee interception! Neal slows down, takes more and more photos, and “Wonderboy” can feel him. Neal’s good left hand connects. Strong scores for Thompson. Neal pushes in the clinch and controls that position, but needs a finish with five minutes left.
Round five
Thompson’s right leg appears to be somewhat injured. Neal lands three left hands! Thompson returns to changing directions and gluing. Clean 1-2 and uppercut from Thompson. Thompson puts it together like a six-fist combo and ends with the body. Neal swings wildly, lands on the left. Thompson often puts his right hand on the jaw line. Neal pushes his enemy into the fence, but time moves against him. Thompson finds a side kick. The rotating elbow is partially connected for Neal. Neal lands 1-2, takes an uppercut. Neal finds a left hook. The two go to the bell!
Outcome: Stephen Thompson defeats Geoff Neal by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
For the full UFC Vegas 17: the results of “Thompson vs. Neal ”and the game play, click HERE!