Geoff Neal: Career, Health, Personal Life, UFC & Net Worth

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One does not earn the nickname “Hands of Steel” without any reason in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Geoff Neal, an American welterweight mixed martial artist of UFC, deserved the nickname because of his powerful punches.

The talented fighter has gained respect from his opponents over time with his sportsmanship and skills.

Moreover, Neal has also received the Performance of the Night award and Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year for his outstanding skills inside the ring. 

mma-ufc-ring-fighter
After defeating the opponent, Geoff Neal takes a round of applause inside the ring.

Although Neal has fought several victorious fights, he says his biggest struggle was with his own life.

Well, today, let’s dive into the life of Geoff Neal and discuss all his life experiences and many other exciting topics.

But before that, let’s examine some quick facts about Geoff Neal.

Quick Facts:

Full Name Geoffrey Neal
Birth Date August 28, 1990
Birth Place Austin, Texas, United States of America
Zodiac Sign Virgo
Nick Name Handz of Steel, Geoff
Religion Unknown
Nationality American
Ethnicity African American
Father’s Name Ed Neal
Mother’s Name Vici Frazier Neal
Siblings One younger sister and brother
Education Texas Lutheran University
Age 33 Years Old
Height 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm)
Weight 77 kg (171 lbs)
Reach 191 cm
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Black
Relationship Status Married
Spouse Unknown
Children One daughter, Ahni Rae
Profession Professional mixed martial artist
Division Welterweight
Net Worth Approximately $2 million
Active Since 2012 – present
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Last Update March, 2024

Geoff Neal | Education, Early Career, and Family

Geoffrey Neal shortly, Geoff Neal was born in Austin, Texas, the United States of America, to parents Ed Neal and Vici Frazier Neal.

Besides his parents, Geoff has two siblings, one sister and a little brother, who are all very dear to Geoff. As for his education, Geoff attended Texas Lutheran University.

Geoff Neal With Family
Geoff Neal With Family

But, Neal was unsatisfied with the football program at Lutheran, so Geoff ultimately gave himself to the Mixed Martial Arts and trained under coach Sayif Saud.

Furthermore, in 2010, Neal made his amateur debut and won against Bobby Hernandez via knockout in the second round.

Before signing with the Ultimate Fighting Champion, Geoff Neal appeared in ten matches, out of which he won eight.

Similarly, he won the fight against Chase Waldon via technical knockout in the first round of Dana White‘s Tuesday Night Contender Series. It was after this fight that the UFC signed him in.

Geoff Neal | Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance

The talented fighter Geoff Neal was born in the year 1990, which makes him 31 years old at the moment.

Likewise, Neal shares his birthday on August 28, making his birth sign Virgo. And from what we know, they are known for being determined, talented, and brave. 

A UFC fighter should always be strong enough to defeat the opponent.

Similarly, the welterweight fighter is 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall and weighs 77 Kg (171 lb) with a well-built muscular and athletic figure.

Geoff Neal
Geoff Neal weighs 77 Kg.

Apart from seeing him shirtless inside the fighting ring, he keeps his attire neat, dressed in fitted jeans and a t-shirt that shows his well-built body structure.

Besides that, Neal’s other notable body parts include short black hair and a pair of black eyes.

Geoff Neal | Professional Career

On February 18, 2018, Geoff made his professional and promotion debut with UFC at UFC Fight Night: Cowboy Vs. Medeiros.

Not to mention, he won the fight against Brian Camozzi by submission in the first round.

neal-ufc-mma-fight-kick
Geoff Neal throws a kick in the opponent’s face during UFC Fight Night.

Similarly, Neal has fought against many outstanding welterweight UFC fighters and recorded victory over most of them.

Neal has played five victorious matches in the three years with UFC, including his promotional debut match.

As a result, he has become the most dangerous welterweight striker and, therefore, got the name “Hands of Steel.”

Due to his health issues, Geoff Neal had to forfeit a match against Neil Magny on August 29, 2020, for the UFC Fight Night 175.

You might also be interested in: <<Who is Dan Hooker? Early Career, UFC, and Net Worth >>

Geoff Neal Vs. Mike Perry

Neal is not Hands of Steel for no reason, as he becomes the first man to defeat the tough Mike Perry with multiple strikes.

Mike has been fighting since 2014 and is a two-time performance of the night winner. Also, he is a two-time fight of the night winner.

However, Geoff beat Perry to a victory in 90 seconds of the first round by a technical knockout.

Neal defeated Perry with a left head kick and punches from his’  hands of steel’ that forced the referee to interrupt.

Who is Mike Perry?

Michael Joseph Perry, also known as Mike Perry, is a professional mixed martial artist currently fighting for the UFC.

Perry made his UFC debut in 2016, where he defeated his opponent in the first round.

He has fought many renowned and skilled fighters, but Geoff was the only one who defeated him. Apart from his violent career, his personal life is no different.

Perry has been involved in street fights with random people, which led to the Police being questioned. Also, his wife accused him of domestic violence of verbal and physical abuse.

Geoff Neal Vs. Niko Price

All the UFC fans were excited about Neal and Price’s fight as both were supported equally.

The pair met their fans’ expectations of a thrilling and exciting match of almost three minutes, with both throwing punches one after the other.

ufc-geoff-neal-niko-price
Geoff Neal wins against Niko Price.

Geoff landed several punches with his steel hands, while Niko opted for a combination of kicks.

At one point, Neal managed to escape Price’s guillotine choke and landed on top as an advantage.

However, during the middle of the second round, Neal won by a technical knockout at precisely 2 minutes 39 seconds. Because of this fight, Neal won the Performance of the Night award.

Also check out: <<Conor McGregor Bio: Career, Controversies, Girlfriend & Net Worth >>

Who is Niko Price?

Niko Price is an American professional welterweight UFC fighter from Florida. He made his UFC debut in 2012 at UFC 207 in a victory against Brandon Thatch.

He has played more than ten fights for the UFC till now, and his winning record is remarkably higher than his losing record.

In November 2020, the Nevada State Athletic Commission temporarily suspended Price after a positive drug test related to his fight.

Moreover, they suspended Price for six months, along with a fine of $8,500.

Geoff Neal Vs. Stephen Thompson

On December 20, 2020, Geoff Neal and Stephen Thomson had an exhilarating fight.

Stephen Thomson, a four-time Performance of the Night award winner, won via unanimous decision against Geoff Neal with his swift punches and kicks.

Although Neal tried his best with his combos and defense, it was not enough for the Wonderboy, Stephen Thompson.

Who is Stephen Thompson?

The American professional MMA fighter Stephen Thompson made his professional debut for UFC in 2012. Out of 21 total fights, Thompson has won 16 contests till now and one draw.

In September 2020, Stephen Thompson Wonderboy ranked No. 5 in the UFC Welterweight rankings.

Not to mention, he has won the Fight of Night award twice and many other notable awards.

Also, read: <<Khabib: UFC, Career, Early Life, Net Worth & Wife >>

What happened to Geoff Neal? Heart attack

Although Geoff has fought several battles, his battle with life is the most important one in his life.

Neal suffered from congestive heart failure and was admitted to the Dallas hospital in August 2020.

What happened to Neal remains a mystery, even to Neal. However, it is something he won’t be able to forget.

The doctors have yet to figure out the cause of Neal’s sudden heart failure. However, Neal announced that he had sepsis and needed to be connected to a dialysis machine.

The doctors suggested he take antibiotics and get plenty of rest before his fight with Stephen Thompson.

A positive attitude and passion for fighting made Neal recover swiftly.

Geoff Neal | MMA Record

Lets’ have a look at Geoff Neal’s professional career MMA record.

Professional record   
18 matches 14 wins 4 losses
By knockout 8 1
By submission 2 1
By decision 4 2

Geoff Neal Personal Life | Wife and Kids

The welterweight competitor is a happily married man and a Father.

The details regarding his wife are not available yet, but Geoff shares pictures of his wife and daughter without disclosing the wife’s name.

However, Neal’s daughter is named Ahni Rae, who recently turned three. The couple made it official in a private wedding ceremony with close family and friends.

Furthermore, they dated for a few years before deciding to get married. Additionally, some might confuse his sister for his wife, but those who know Geoff well can easily state the fact.

Geoff Neal's Kid
Geoff Neal’s Kid

Apart from his married life, there are no rumors regarding his past affairs.

Also, Geoff is pretty secretive about his personal life, so there is not much to say. However, he certainly values his family more than anything.

Besides his professional MMA career, Geoff is also a server and bartender in a Texas restaurant, where he last served in June 2020.

Geoff Neal | Net Worth

Before joining UFC, Neal worked as a restaurant server for almost ten years at Texas Roadhouse in Dallas.

However, he earned most of his current savings from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Geoff Neal’s net worth seems less than the fighters who have been in the industry for a significantly longer period.

Nevertheless, he started his UFC career only a few years back, and his net worth is more likely to increase, along with his salary.

As of 2024, Geoff’s net worth is approximately $2 million, give or take.

Also, even though the exact net worth estimation is unavailable, it is between $1.5 million and $5 million.

Likewise, Neal’s yearly salary depends on the number of fights he has fought in a year, plus bonuses.

Besides, there are various endorsement opportunities for any athlete from sports brands. And is known for Geoff to have endorsements with Reebok, an international athletic brand.

Also, check out: <<Bob Sapp: Football, Movies, Wrestling, Facts & MMA >>

Social Media Presence:

Geoff Neal is active on social media and has built a huge social profile. Neal is available on popular social networking sites like Twitter and Instagram.

You can follow Geoff Neal on his social media handles via these links.

Instagram account: 48.1k followers
Twitter account: 16.9k followers

Some FAQs:

Where does Geoff Neal train?

Geoff Neal trains in Fortis MMA, located in Texas St, Dallas, TX 75204, United States.

Where does Geoff Neal currently work?

Geoff Neal currently works as a server at Texas Steakhouse because UFC could not find a fight for him.

What is Geoff Neal’s fighting style?

Geoff Neal’s fighting style is STRIKER.

What is Geoff Neal’s fight record like?

At present, Geoff Neal has played seven games in the amateur ring. Among them, he has bagged six wins, five through knockouts, and has a single loss.

Following it, Neal has appeared in a total of 17 matches in the MMA ring. Among them, he has won 13 wins (8 by knockout, two by submission, and three by decision) and four losses (one by knockout, one by request, and two by decision). 

Who has Geoff Neal lost to?

Geoff Neal has lost to Stephen Thompson on UFC Fight NightKevin Holland on Xtreme Knockout 34, and Martin Sano on 24/7 Entertainment 9.

Who won the match between Geoff Neal and Belal Muhammed?

Geoff Neal fought against Belal Muhammed in the UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw on January 20, 2019. Lasting for three matches in total, Geoff bagged the victory through the decision. 

Did Geoff Neal win Geoff Neal vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio?

Yes, Geoff Neal won the fight via a split decision. He faced Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 269 on December 11, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.

Aaditya Bhatta
Aaditya Bhatta

Aaditya Bhatta

Aaditya Bhatta is a dynamic writer and sports enthusiast, whose passion for both realms is reflected in his work. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, Aaditya brings a unique perspective to his writing, captivating readers with his engaging content.

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Aaditya's journey as a writer and sports aficionado began at a young age when he discovered his passion for both pursuits. Throughout his academic and professional endeavors, Aaditya has honed his skills in content creation and sports analysis, immersing himself in the intricacies of the games he loves.

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