The UFC‘s fight night on December 19th is getting another really solid matchup at welterweight. Per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (15-4) will be taking on rising contender Geoff Neal (13-2).
The UFC had been working on matchups for both men that fell apart. The promotion was initially working on a matchup between Thompson and Khamzat Chimaev. Of course, Chimaev is headlining this card against Leon Edwards.Â
Thompson wasn’t interested in the Chimaev fight, so the UFC moved on. Geoff Neal was originally supposed to take on Neil Magny. However, a couple of months ago, a health scare sidelined Neal who had already been having a tough 2020.
The two top ten UFC welterweights will now go to battle on a card that is shaping up to be huge for the welterweight division. Both men have title aspirations, and they will be looking to continue winning streaks when they step into the octagon on December 19th.
Per sources, UFC targeting a welterweight matchup between Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) and Geoff Neal (@handzofsteelmma) for UFC Fight Night on Dec. 19 in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/wGKOoP8XIP
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 4, 2020
Moving Day for the UFC welterweights.
Between this fight and the headlining fight, this card is turning out to be a moving day for the UFC‘s welterweight division. For Wonderboy, he’s looking to climb the latter to get back to a UFC title shot. He’s fought for the title twice going 0-1-1 in those two contests.
The last we saw Wonderboy was last year at UFC 244. That night, Thompson was able to use his point style striking to defeat contender Vicente Luque by unanimous decision. Thompson is looking to turn back another dangerous contender on December 19th.
It’s been a tough year for welterweight contender Geoff Neal. The UFC struggled to get Neal a fight and as a result, Neal actually started waiting tables to make some money. Then he was supposed to fight Neil Magny before that fight was scrapped.
Neil will enter the octagon on a seven fight winning streak. Only one of those fights has gone the distance. If Neal can come out and stop a former title challenger like Wonderboy, it will put the rest of the UFC‘s welterweight division on notice.