Steven Wonder Boy Thompson and Geoff Neal high five and hug each other to death at ufc vegas 17

 

How sad was this fight‼️ 

  Going into UFC VEGAS 17 the promotion was putting out content that pushed Geoff Neal as the next cold blooded killer in the welterweight division of the UFC. 

A 13-2 heavy hitting striker on a bumb up in competition from mid card competition where he handled guys like Mike Perry and Niko Price ....

To now fighting the stellar Steven Wonder Boy Thompson who has beat a who's - who of elite mma fighters.... including Jorge Masvidal , Vicente Luque and has been the distance with The worlds most elite ufc fighters in the last 6 years +. 

( Darren Till, Tyron Woodley , Anthony Pettis,)

  

      So with the media hype and content pushing this narrative that this fight was going to be a Possible changing of the guard with a hard charging Geoff Neal knocking 38 year old Thompson out of the elite club and taking his place.  - well that's the fight we expected here at MMA FIGHT BET. 

  

   What we got instead looked more like two best friends that really didn't want to hurt one another. There were more high fives and hugs, and moments of what one could only describe as ( ultra sportsman like behavior) than was neccessary.  

   In fact if I was a sportsbook owner I would seriously consider calling non-action on that fight. 

Even being a moment in the fight where Geoff Neal was hurt and Thompson refrained from hitting him to ask if he was ok... or gesture if he was OK to continue striking.  Instead of pushing forward for the kill. 

A no doubt bloody fight as the men did headbutt accidently early ... ( they of course paused their own action for that as well)..... no Marc Goddard needed. 

 Sure they hit each other... sure they busted each others lips up and one of them might have a black eye... 

But , overall I felt there was several times in the fight where both fighters possibly could have ended it or at very least advanced their positions to set up a end later in the fight. 

Instead they chose to check on each other and ensure they were both OK before going back to rockem sockem robots. 

  Both fighters fell and tripped at points in the fight. And even though they are both strikers. Listen mounting someone and controlling them on the ground even if its just from a accidental trip wins fights..... it scores points in the eyes of judges. 

 When Neal fell, Wonder Boy Thompson did referee Marc Goddard's job for him and graciously let Neal up , then checked on him to make sure he was OK from the fall by giving the high five before going back to boxing. 

Wonderboy Thompson fell not much longer after Neal and Neal returned the favor.  Letting Thompson off the hook where most guys would have advanced and took points. It was late in the fight Thompson was tired and taxed... he could of rode out the round in top position and gained control time. - NOPE ‼️

   Finally to make it worst. In the 5th , everyone at the apex in Las Vegas was aware that Wonderboy's knee was destroyed.  He was plainly limping and the baseball size swelling above the knee was kinda hard to miss. 

Neal in a perfect position to just change levels and grab the leg and end the fight with very little effort , just wrapping the leg up would have ended it. 

Instead he chose to just ride it out with Wonderbra till the final bell... and of course at the end they hugged and kissed and made love. 

   Well , so much for the content labeling Neal as a hard hitting force to be reckoned with coming to climb the ranks to a title fight. Thats done. He just lost to a 40 year old . Although a world-class striker Thompson is far from the title and the caliber of fighter that say Kamaru Usman is.  

   This fight exposed Neal as a guy who would rather look cool to the guys in the locker room by being Mr. RESPECRFUL ... THAN A COLD BLOODED KILLER WHO IS AFTET THE TITLE. 

That shipped just sailed. And listen rightfully so. 

The display put on tonight was a master manipulation by Steven Wonderboy Thompson who fights to his opponents aggresion....

He executed his game plan masterfully. Controlling the emotions and the tempo of Geoff Neal right from the bell with high fives and the ( mad respect) story line. 

    He succefully took out a up and coming challenger to his hierarchy by mental warfare.... 

But he should be embarrassed.... the hugging and high fives and checking on his opponent,and overall lack of killer instinct ruined this fight. 

    I feel sorry for anyone who bet for this fight not to go the distance. Cause it was a pitiful dragged out process that could have been put on ice early if one of the two fighters grew some balls. 

But it is what it is.  A master-class in fight psychology by Thompson to hold his spot in the hierarchy of ufc elites. And a epic fail for Neal, who probably will have to work extremely hard to ever get a co-main event again. 

Of course the casuals will claim " fight of the night"

Of course they will. 

Mmafightbet 

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