Geoff Neal almost died three years ago. The 33-year-old, who had been on a five-fight win streak in 2020, was diagnosed with Covid-19. However, due to the nature and seriousness of his symptoms, he realized there was something more adverse going on and sought medical attention.

He was diagnosed with sepsis and nearly lost his life as a result of his organs being adversely affected due to an infection having seeped into his bloodstream. However, ‘Handz of Steel’ fought through and made a full recovery even as he dealt with the after-effects of the episode. Ahead of his UFC 298 clash against Ian Machado Garry, we take a look at the story behind his impressive moniker.

Geoff Neal reveals the substance behind ‘Handz of Steel’

Known for his explosive, take-no-prisoner bar brawler style of fighting, Geoff Neal has become a fan favorite because of it. He got his nickname after his friend Travis Moore suggested the moniker ‘Handz of Steel’ Neal for the American.

Neal liked the nickname and stuck to it. The 33-year-old has certainly lived up to his moniker with a finish rate of sixty percent, with nine of his fifteen victories having come via knockout. ‘Hand of Steel’ is ranked #8 in the 170-pound division currently and his next bout will be a consequential one for the future course of his career.

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His next bout against Ian Garry has become somewhat personal. After Neal pulled out of his UFC 292 bout last year due to medical issues, ‘The One’ and his coach made disparaging remarks about him, implying he was trying to duck the promising Irishman. In addition, Garry came to their UFC 292 pre-fight press conference wearing a t-shirt with Neal’s mugshot on it in an attempt to get under the American’s skin.

All of this, along with the controversy Ian Garry and his wife have recently found themselves in have raised the stakes for the bout. Neal has maintained that he is unbothered by these antics and is going into the bout with a calm, level head as he is focused on his goal of becoming champion, which a victory over Garry will help significantly.

What is next for Neal?

Although Neal has lost three of his last five fights, it is important to remember those losses have come at the hands of #3 ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov, the strongest contender for a title shot after top title contender Belal Muhammad, and #7 ranked welterweight and fan-favorite Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.

Not to mention these came after ‘Handz of Steel’s near-death experience, because of which he will be cut a lot of slack by fans. A victory over the undefeated Garry, who has a lot of momentum and hype behind him, will certainly put the American back in title contention, possibly one or two steps away from fighting for the 170-pound crown.

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A loss, on the other hand, is likely to see him out of the title picture for the near future. The #8 ranked fighter, ranking will plummet if he loses to the #10 ranked Garry and he will likely serve in more of a gatekeeping role for the top 10 before he can notch up at least a couple of victories before returning to the title picture. On the other hand, Garry, too will be in the title mix if he beats Neal at UFC 298. What are your predictions for UFC 298?

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