Originally scheduled to fight last month before an injury disruption, Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov finally face each other at UFC 285 in a Welterweight clash poised to shake up the rankings in the division. The number seven-ranked American Geoff Neal is poised to try to end the undefeated run of Kazakh Shavkat Rakhmonov. The number ten-ranked fighter is a relative newcomer to the UFC and has not lost a professional contest. The fight is on the main card of UFC 285 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
MMA: UFC Welterweight
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Where to watch: PPV
Date: 5.3.2023, 6:00
Geoff Neal
The American fighter who debuted in the UFC in 2018 has quietly established himself in the Welterweight division. The 32-year-old went 5-0 before losing in consecutive bouts to Stephen Thompson and Neil Magny in 2020 and 2021. He has turned the setbacks around and comes into this fight on a two-match winning streak. His last win in August 2022 against Vicente Luque earned a Performance of the Night bonus and was an impressive KO of a top-ten Welterweight. A high-volume striker, “Handz of Steel” comes short in wrestling and grappling, although he has some good takedown defenses.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 32
- Height: 5’ 11”
- Reach: 75”
- Record: 15-4-0
Shavkat Rakhmonov
The former M-1 Global Welterweight champion has dominated his UFC career so far. Debuting against Alex Oliveira in October 2020, the Uzbekistan-born Kazakh submitted the Brazilian in the first round. He then finished his next three opponents, including Neil Magny, in a Performance of the Night last June. The 28-year-old is undefeated in sixteen professional matches and is touted as a future champion.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 28
- Height: 6’ 1”
- Reach: 77”
- Record: 16-0-0
Betting Odds
Geoff Neal is a massive underdog with the bookies. He is priced at a massive 4.86 odds to win on Coinplay. The Kazakh is priced at 1.175 odds to win. Over 1.5 rounds is priced at 1.832 odds on 1xbet. Looking for a relatively safe bet, stake on under 2.5 rounds at 1.7 odds on 1xbet. Shavkat Rakhmonov to win by KO, TKO, or submission is available at 1.57 odds.
