Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal Targeted for UFC Fight Night on Dec. 19

A welterweight clash pitting Stephen Thompson against Geoff Neal is in the works for a UFC event on Dec. 19.

ESPN was first to report the bout. The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a welterweight tilt between Leon Edwards and Khamzhat Chimaev. Thompson vs. Neal has not been officially announced, but the promotion is close to finalizing the fight.

Thompson will be making his first Octagon appearance of 2020. The former title challenger halted a two-bout skid in his last outing when he took a unanimous decision over Vicente Luque at UFC 244 in November 2019. “Wonderboy” owns other notable wins against the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Rory MacDonald, Robert Whittaker, Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger.

Neal has won his first five UFC bouts to emerge as a new contender in the welterweight division. The Contender Series veteran was supposed to face Neil Magny in August but was forced to withdraw from the contest for health reasons. Neal’s resume includes finishes of Mike Perry, Niko Price, Frank Camacho and Brian Camozzi in the Octagon.