UFC 269: Geoff Neal Explains Recent Arrest Ahead of Ponzinibbio Fight

Las Vegas, NV — Just weeks out from UFC 269, Geoff Neal, one of the more well-spoken, laid back characters in the promotion’s welterweight division, blew just about everyone away by landing himself in some legal trouble.

Neal (13-4), looking to snap a two-fight skid against Santiago Ponzinibbio, was picked up on a DWI and weapons charge back on Thanksgiving, although the news did not make the rounds until later.

The 31-year old shed some light into what happened during the UFC 269 media day this week. “What really went down is, I haven’t been charged with any crime yet. They had probable cause, and instead of doing a Breathalyzer, I chose to do the blood. So I’m waiting for the results to get back on that, and we’ll go from there.”

Dispelling the notion that he was out partying during training camp, Neal explained that “it was just a one-night thing. Just decided to kick back and relax with my girlfriend, had a few drinks, and then there’s a situation that happened and then the cops got involved. I did have my weapon on me. My weapon, it’s legal. It’s licensed in my name. They made it look like I had like a MAC 10 in my lap driving around drunk or something.”

“It’s not as serious as they made it out to be. It’s not like I was like drunk off my ass, hung over, just running the streets” he continued. “It was a one-time thing.”

That said, Neal is taking responsibility for the incident. “I’m the dumbass that did that, so I’ve got to deal with it.”

Watch the full UFC 269 media day scrum with Geoff Neal above. The event takes place this Saturday, December 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. More coverage can be found below.