The welterweight fight between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates at UFC 314 has been canceled due to Neal’s injury, leaving Prates without a new opponent but potentially facing a bigger opportunity in the future.
A big welterweight showdown between Geoff Neal and Carlos Prates is off the table for UFC 314. Bummer, right? During Saturday’s UFC Mexico broadcast, commentator Jon Anik dropped the news: Neal’s injury has scrapped the whole fight from the April 12 card. No juicy details on Neal’s injury or his recovery timeline were shared. Mysterious, huh?
Now, what about Prates? He won’t be facing a new opponent just yet. But wait—there’s a hint of something exciting on the horizon for him. Anik teased that the Brazilian might have an even bigger opportunity coming up soon. “We hope to have some big news on Carlos Prates in the weeks to come,” he said. Fingers crossed!
Still, it’s a letdown for Prates, who was riding high after a killer 2024 campaign with four consecutive knockouts in early rounds. He had hoped to add another feather to his cap by taking on veteran Neal. Alas, he’ll have to sit tight for now.
For Neal, this fight was supposed to be his chance to secure a second win in a row after defeating Rafael dos Anjos last October. Missing out on facing one of the fastest rising stars like Prates? That’s gotta sting.
With Neal vs. Prates off, UFC 314’s main card is down to four fights. But don’t worry—a fifth bout will slide into that slot before the event kicks off on April 12 in Miami. Stay tuned!