UFC 314 would have been Carlos Prates‘ fifth outing under the banner, and his first opportunity to break into the top 10 rankings. But those plans have come to a (seemingly temporary) halt. Geoff Neal is out with an undisclosed injury, yet again. Some of you might remember the American star had a similar issue ahead of his canceled bout against Ian Garry back in 2023. So, what is it with Neal and canceled bouts against rising prospects?

The extent of Neal’s injuries and the length of his recovery time are unknown. For Prates, this is a painful setback because he was about to face the most difficult challenge of his UFC career so far. The Brazilian knockout artist has four straight KO victories, and facing someone as dangerous as ‘Handz of Steel’ would have been an important point in his rise through the division. Unfortunately, with Geoff Neal gone, Prates’ immediate future is unknown.

During the UFC Mexico broadcast, UFC commentator Jon Anik stated that “big news” may be on the horizon for the Brazilian star. It is unclear whether this means a significant opportunity in the near future or something else. One thing that we know so far is that it’s evident the Dana White-led promotion sees something special in ‘The Nightmare’ and isn’t ready to let his momentum fade away. He’s one of the most promising names at 170 pounds, and the promotion is probably working behind the scenes to push him into the spotlight.

Despite the fact that this bout is not on the schedule anymore, UFC 314 still has plenty of must-see fights. Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will compete for the vacant featherweight title, while Michael Chandler will meet Paddy Pimblett in a highly anticipated co-main event. Patricio Pitbull also makes his long-awaited UFC debut, facing Yair Rodriguez in a high-stakes featherweight fight.

With Carlos Prates waiting for his next move, the attention goes to what the UFC has in store for him. If Anik’s statements are any indication, it could be something bigger than anyone thought, probably a short-notice fight against Vicente Luque. However, it is also worth noting that this isn’t the first time that Geoff Neal pulled out of a fight at the very end, something that may draw the ire of Dana White.

Geoff Neal repeats pull out feat from 2023

Geoff Neal’s withdrawal from UFC 314 may have come as a surprise, but for those who have followed his career, it feels familiar. Back in 2023, he was scheduled to fight Ian Machado Garry at UFC 292, but he pulled out less than two weeks before the bout. No clear reason was ever provided, surely leaving fans and Garry frustrated. ‘Handz of Steel’ was replaced by Neil Magny, and while Garry won the bout, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d been robbed of the moment he’d worked so hard for. And now, with another late pullout, it’s beginning to feel like a pattern.

‘Machado’ saw the cancellation as more than a minor change in opponents; for him it was personal. He had spent months hyping up the bout, even going so far as to wear a t-shirt with Neal’s previous mugshot to get inside his head. Whether it was mind games or simply bad luck, Neal’s withdrawal further fueled the fire. Ian Garry claimed that ‘Handz of Steel’ simply snapped under pressure, especially after suffering a defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov before their scheduled fight.

Whatever the case, Neal’s tendency to cancel fights at the last minute isn’t helping him. The UFC isn’t exactly lenient when it comes to repeated cancellations, and Dana White has previously expressed his displeasure with competitors who don’t make it to the cage. At a time when the welterweight division is brimming with many vying for a shot, missing fights is more than just a temporary setback; it’s a threat to his entire reputation in the promotion. If he does not break this run soon, Neal may find himself falling out of favor with the UFC sooner than he expects. What do you think? Do you believe ‘Handz of Steel’ is walking on thin ice? Let us know in the comments.