Ian Machado Garry Gets The Split Decision Over Geoff Neal In A Lackluster Fight

Welp - that kinda sucked! 

Ian Machado Garry vs Geoff Neal was easily one of the most anticipated fights on this UFC 298 card, due to the bad blood that brewed when these guys were fight booked to fight a few months back....

“Thank you for making that shirt bro. It motivated me.”

....but the fight definitely didn't live up to the hype. All three rounds were pretty close, with Neal landing a few shots at a time, clinching, and then separating over and over again. Every now and then, Garry would land a big knee up the middle - but otherwise, nobody really had any big moments. Joe Rogan was acting like this was some kinda Ian Machado Garry masterclass on commentary, and even said he'd like to see Garry vs Leon Edwards, which I thought was nuts. Big time "glazing" as the kids say.

He got the split-decision, and then Ian Machado Garry was booed outta the building like he was Dominik Mysterio post-fight, but brilliantly called out Colby Covington - the only guy who may be more hated than he is right now. 

I think the Garry hate has mostly gotten outta hand at this point (the crowd was chanting "CUCK" at him mid-fight), but he's certainly playing into it now and being the heel, so maybe it's a new motivator/avenue for him to succeed. 

This fight just wasn't it.