Geoff Neal Details How He Overcame a Near Death Experience to Get Back Into the Octagon

The last fight card of the year is upon us. This weekend Stephen Thompson takes on Geoff Neal as the main event at UFC Vegas 17, which is the last event before a one-month break. Originally, Khamzat Chimaev and Leon Edwards would have headlined the event. However, a positive COVID test ruled ‘Rocky’ out of his fight with ‘Borz’

‘Wonderboy’ is currently ranked 5th in the division. He takes on a Dana White’s Contender Series alumni in Geoff Neal, who is 6-0 in his UFC. The fight is an excellent opportunity for both men to gain a few ranks in the welterweight division. 

Read: Geoff Neal looking for a title shot after defeating Stephen Wonderboy Thompson 

Geoff Neal takes on his toughest test to date just a few months after a heart failure 

Earlier this year, Neal had congestive heart failure and was admitted into an intensive care unit. They released him in mid-August and in and in just a few months’ time is taking on arguably one of his toughest tests to date. 

In a press conference leading up to his fight, a reporter asked ‘Handz of Steel’ about his health and how he recuperated from the incident. He replied, “Like right after I got out of the hospital, I was supposed to sit at my apartment for a month. Do nothing, do nothing at all, so I just sat in there, did nothing, and got back in the gym after that.”

Geoff continued, “I was kinda scared to push it you know… so I’m in the gym I’m worried about my heart-stopping and I’m checking my pulse every other minute you know. It took me a while, but after a month, just being in the gym, slowly getting back into it. I started getting more comfortable and I was able to push it. Once I got word on the fight, I was already in the gym full swing so it was just like I had to keep climbing up that hill.”

‘Handz of Steel’ ended last year with a spectacular TKO win over Mike Perry. He will be aiming to do the same against a former title challenger in ‘Wonderboy’.

Despite what happens this weekend, Neal has shown tremendous courage to bounce back from a life-threatening situation to fight in just a few months.