Top 5: Geoff Neal Knockouts

When Geoff Neal smells blood in the water, the consequences are often devastating. Cue the iconic theme from “Jaws.”

The Fortis MMA rep was at the height of his powers inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight division when he dispatched Mike Perry with a head kick and follow-up punches in the first round of their featured UFC 245 prelim on Dec. 14, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Perry wilted 90 seconds into Round 1, suffering the first knockout loss of his career.

Neal picked his spots with precision, patience and power. He blindsided the notoriously durable Perry with a left high kick, pursued him to the fence and unleashed a volley of pinpoint shots from both hands. Referee Chris Tognoni gave “Platinum Mike” every opportunity to recover before he was forced to intervene on the Flint, Michigan, native’s behalf.

As Neal moves ever closer to his forthcoming showdown with Uros Medic in the UFC Fight Night 267 co-headliner this Saturday at the Toyota Center in Houston, his finish of Perry remains one of his most memorable knockouts. Four others to consider:

Geoff Neal vs. Chase Waldon

Dana White’s Contender Series 3
July 25, 2017 | Las Vegas
Neal nailed down his spot on the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster when he dispatched the Spartan Martial Arts export with punches in the first round of their middleweight feature on Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series at the UFC Training Center. Waldon bowed out 1:56 into Round 1. A short-notice substitution for Gabriel Checco, Neal conceded a takedown but escaped to his feet and created some separation. He eventually backed Waldon to the cage and sent him crashing to the canvas with a crushing overhand left. Neal then cut loose with ground-and-pound on his turtled counterpart to prompt the stoppage.

Geoff Neal vs. Frank Camacho

UFC 228
Sept. 8, 2018 | Dallas
Neal wiped out the former Pacific Xtreme Combat champion with a head kick in the second round of their welterweight prelim at the American Airlines Center. Camacho packed his bags 1:23 into Round 2, as he lost via knockout for the first time in over two years. Neal established his superiority inside the first five minutes, where he countered his opponent’s forward pressure with deft footwork and sharp combinations. He nearly finished it in the waning seconds, as he floored Camacho with a straight left and followed with punches. Only the bell—and referee Dan Miragliotta’s restraint—saved the Saipan native. Neal continued his assault in the middle stanza, lured his counterpart into range and connected with a scorched-earth head kick. Unconscious on impact, Camacho collapsed to the canvas before Miragliotta rescued him from further punishment.

Geoff Neal vs. Niko Price

UFC 240
July 27, 2019 | Edmonton, Alberta
Neal was the last man standing in an entertaining barnburner, as he dismissed the ex-Fight Time Promotions titleholder with punches in the second round of their welterweight showcase at Rogers Place. Price succumbed to blows 2:39 into Round 2. A wild first round that included a double knockdown from dueling left hands and an accidental headbutt concluded with Neal in full mount and momentum in his corner. The two men exchanged punches at close range at the start of Round 2, showing no regard for their well-being. Price made a pass at an ill-advised guillotine choke and wound up in bottom position, where he found himself pinned beneath an adrenaline-infused adversary. Neal started dropping punches of varying intensity from inside guard and appeared to be closing in on a clean knockout before the stoppage was called.

Geoff Neal vs. Vicente Luque

UFC on ESPN 40
Aug. 6, 2022 | Las Vegas
Neal brought down “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 21 semifinalist with punches in the third round of their welterweight co-main event at the UFC Apex. Luque, who had never before been knocked out, met his end 2:01 into Round 3. Neal stormed out of the gate in the first round, where he dazed the Henri Hooft protégé with searing left hands on more than one occasion and largely dominated the action. Luque rebounded in the middle stanza, as he upped his output and called upon kicks to the body and legs. However, it was not enough to keep Neal at bay. The Austin, Texas, native went to work with renewed vigor behind clean one-twos in Round 3, buckled Luque with another left and bottled him up along the fence. Neal then let go with a savage volley of uppercuts before another straight left sent his opponent into a fight-ending nosedive.