- Geoff Neal will face Carlos Prates in the main card of UFC 319 on Aug. 16.
- The fight will take place inside the United Center in Chicago.
- Neal is the +200 betting underdog, while Prates is the -250 favorite.
UFC welterweight contenders Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates will be part of the UFC 319 PPV main card on Aug. 16 inside the United Center in Chicago, as both athletes are looking to move up in the division’s rankings.
Neal is fresh off a bounce-back win in his previous fight that snapped his two-fight skid, but will still be the betting underdog with +200 UFC odds. Meanwhile, Prates, whose last fight ended in a loss, is going to be the -250 betting favorite.
UFC 319: Neal vs. Prates Odds
- Geoff Neal: +200
- Carlos Prates: -250
UFC 319: Neal vs. Prates: Prediction
My prediction for this welterweight clash is a knockout victory for Prates against Neal, because he’s the more refined and powerful striker. Additional factors to consider are the height and reach differences between the two, which give Prates a significant upper hand.
Both fighters are not afraid to stand and trade, but Prates is 3 inches taller and has an edge of 2.5 inches for reach against Neal. This will be very crucial in exchanges. Once Prates establishes his range and fully utilizes this advantage, Neal might have a hard time landing his strikes.
Furthermore, this fight is only three rounds, and Prates won’t have to worry about conserving his energy like he did in his previous fight against Garry, when they fought in a five-round match. This gives Prates all the confidence to put knockout intentions into his strikes.
Lastly, Neal is now entering the end of his prime at 34, which means that his speed and explosiveness may have decreased compared to two or three years ago. This could be a match, where we see him become the new gatekeeper of the division.
Geoff Neal’s Recent Fight Results
Neal is a seven-year UFC veteran who secured a roster spot via the Dana White Contender Series in July 2017. He swept his first five fights in the promotion with wins over Brian Camozzi, Frank Camacho, Belal Muhammad, Niko Price, and Mike Perry.
But after that impressive win streak, he has only won three of his next seven fights. Stephen Thompson, Neil Magny, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Ian Garry defeated him. His wins during this stretch were against Santiago Ponzinibbio, Vicente Luque, and Rafael Dos Anjos.
Carlos Prates’ Recent Fight Results
Like Neal, Prates was also a product of the Dana White Contender Series, where he finished his opponent in the second round to secure a UFC contract. He competed in several MMA organizations worldwide before he found his way to the leading fight promotion in 2023.
Prates made his octagon debut against Trevin Giles and quickly added three more wins against Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Magny. His most recent bout was against Garry last April in the main event of the UFC Kansas card, but he came up short with a unanimous decision loss, which was his first setback under the UFC banner.
UFC 319: Neal vs. Prates: Tale of the Tape
| Geoff Neal | Carlos Prates | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 34 | 31 |
| Height | 5’11” | 6’1” |
| Reach | 75 inches | 78 inches |
| Leg Reach | 41 inches | 43.5 inches |
| Record | 16-6 | 21-7 |
| Fighting Style | Striker | Striker |
| Finishing Rate | 75% | 90% |
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