UFC Fight Night 183: Thompson vs. Neal | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- May 21
- 6 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 183: Thompson vs. Neal was the UFC’s final event of 2020, taking place on December 19 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 17. Originally headlined by Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev, both men tested positive for COVID-19 and were removed, leaving the promotion scrambling for a new main event just weeks out. The welterweight clash between Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson and Geoff Neal filled the gap.
Thompson outclassed Neal across five rounds with a masterful striking display, winning 50-45 on all three scorecards. The card also featured Jose Aldo’s first bantamweight win, Rob Font’s TKO of Marlon Moraes, Jimmy Flick’s viral flying triangle submission, and a stacked undercard of 9 top-10 contenders — a fitting send-off for an extraordinary pandemic year.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, December 19, 2020 | Final UFC event of 2020
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 17)
👥 Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors — COVID-19 pandemic)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 41)
🏆 Main Event: Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal — Welterweight (5 rounds)
✅ Result: Stephen Thompson def. Geoff Neal via Decision (Unanimous) (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
🥇 Champion: Title not on the line
The Build-Up
FN 183 was originally to be headlined by one of the most anticipated non-title welterweight bouts of the pandemic era: Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev. The undefeated Chimaev had stormed through 2020 with a series of dominant finishes, and a main event against the number-three ranked Edwards would have been a genuine measuring stick. On November 29, Chimaev tested positive for COVID-19. Edwards followed days later. Both were removed and the main event was gone.
The UFC promoted Thompson vs. Neal as the replacement. Wonderboy was coming off a strong win over Vicente Luque, trying to reestablish himself as a title contender. Neal had been on a seven-fight win streak and was considered one of the most dangerous welterweights in the world. The undercard was stacked regardless: Jose Aldo, Anthony Pettis, Marlon Moraes, Michel Pereira, and Marcin Tybura were all among the 9 top-10 contenders on the bill.
Main Event: Thompson vs. Neal
Stephen Thompson won by unanimous decision (50-45 on all three scorecards) in a five-round welterweight main event that showcased exactly why Wonderboy is one of the most technically gifted strikers in the sport’s history. He out-landed Neal consistently with kicks and precise combinations, used his range and footwork to nullify Neal’s pressure, and put on a striking clinic across all five rounds.
Neal, who had entered the fight with a seven-fight win streak including back-to-back KOs, was comprehensively outboxed. He landed 110 of 205 strikes to Thompson’s 171 of 406 significant shots, but Thompson’s precision and variety — particularly to the body — made him the clear winner. The result was Thompson’s first back-to-back wins since 2016, reviving his title aspirations. He also suffered a knee injury during the fight that required post-fight medical attention.
Co-Main Event: Aldo vs. Vera
Jose Aldo defeated Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera by unanimous decision (29-28 x3) in a bantamweight co-main that produced Aldo’s first win at 135 lbs. Aldo, who had twice held the featherweight championship before dropping to bantamweight, had been searching for his footing in the new division. His experience and footwork proved decisive against a game Vera, who had won six of his previous seven. The win kept Aldo relevant in a division where his title hopes were genuine.
Full Results
Main Card
Stephen Thompson def. Geoff Neal — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 5, 5:00) | 50-45 x3 — Performance of the Night
Jose Aldo def. Marlon Vera — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 29-28 x3 — Aldo’s first bantamweight win
Michel Pereira def. Khaos Williams — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 29-28 x3
Rob Font def. Marlon Moraes — TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 3:47) — Performance of the Night
Marcin Tybura def. Greg Hardy — TKO (Punches) (Round 2, 4:31) — Performance of the Night
Preliminary Card
Anthony Pettis def. Alex Morono — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | 29-28 x3
Pannie Kianzad def. Sijara Eubanks — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3) | 29-28 x3
Deron Winn def. Antonio Arroyo — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3) | 29-28 x3
Taila Santos def. Gillian Robertson — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3) | 30-26, 30-26, 29-28
Jimmy Flick def. Cody Durden — Submission (Flying Triangle Choke) (Round 1) — Performance of the Night | Viral finish
Bonuses & Awards
No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded. Four Performance of the Night bonuses recognised the card’s best individual performances.
🏆 Performance of the Night: Stephen Thompson ($50,000) — 50-45 striking masterclass over Geoff Neal
🏆 Performance of the Night: Rob Font ($50,000) — TKO of Marlon Moraes, Round 1, 3:47
🏆 Performance of the Night: Marcin Tybura ($50,000) — TKO of Greg Hardy, Round 2, 4:31
🏆 Performance of the Night: Jimmy Flick ($50,000) — Flying triangle choke of Cody Durden, Round 1
Records & Milestones
🥊 Stephen Thompson’s win over Neal was his first back-to-back wins since 2016. He had suffered through a difficult stretch of results including two title fight draws against Tyron Woodley and losses to Usman and Luque before rebounding.
🥊 FN 183 featured nine top-10 contenders on a single card — the most stacked pandemic-era Apex undercard, comparable in talent density to many PPV events. Total bouts at the UFC in 2020: 456.
🥊 Jose Aldo’s unanimous decision over Vera was his first bantamweight victory, signalling that the legendary featherweight champion had found his footing in the new division.
🥊 Jimmy Flick’s flying triangle choke of Cody Durden was one of the most technically unique submission finishes of the year, immediately going viral and generating comparisons to the great grappling moments of MMA history.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 183 closed the most extraordinary year in the promotion’s history. From the first behind-closed-doors event in Brasilia in March through 456 total bouts across four continents and a custom-built bubble in Abu Dhabi, the UFC had produced non-stop content at a rate that surpassed any previous year. The final card delivered exactly what was needed: a stacked lineup, a technical masterclass in the main event, and a string of memorable undercard performances.
Thompson’s dominant win announced him as a genuine title contender heading into 2021. Font’s TKO of Moraes continued a bantamweight reshuffling. And Jimmy Flick’s flying triangle — one of the most technically surprising moments of 2020 — was a perfect microcosm of the year itself: impossible to predict, executed perfectly, and something no one forgot.
FAQ
Why was Edwards vs. Chimaev cancelled at UFC Fight Night 183?
Khamzat Chimaev tested positive for COVID-19 on November 29. Leon Edwards then tested positive too, just days later. Chimaev’s case was initially described as expected to clear in time for the fight, but Edwards’ withdrawal due to ongoing severe symptoms forced the full cancellation of the original main event. Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal was promoted as the new headliner.
What was the significance of Jose Aldo’s win at UFC Fight Night 183?
Jose Aldo’s unanimous decision over Marlon Vera was his first win at bantamweight after dropping from featherweight. Aldo had twice been the UFC Featherweight Champion and was considered the greatest 145-pounder in history. His first bantamweight victory showed he could compete effectively in the new division and kept his title aspirations alive.
What made Jimmy Flick’s flying triangle at UFC Fight Night 183 so remarkable?
Jimmy Flick caught Cody Durden with a flying triangle choke in round one in a technique almost never seen as a finishing submission at UFC level. The aerial attack required perfect timing, athleticism, and confidence in a submission from a position that is generally considered extremely difficult to lock up against a standing opponent. The finish earned Flick a Performance of the Night bonus and went viral immediately.
What is Stephen Thompson’s karate-style background?
Thompson comes from a full-contact karate background, trained by his father Ray Thompson who runs a martial arts academy in Simpsonville, South Carolina. His stance, footwork, timing, and variety of kicks are rooted in sport karate, making him one of the most distinctive and technically unusual strikers in the UFC. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pure strikers in welterweight history.
How many UFC events took place in 2020?
The Thompson-Neal fight was the 456th bout at a UFC event in 2020, as noted by DC in the broadcast. The UFC staged events from the Apex in Las Vegas, various international bubbles including Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island, and the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. In total, the UFC ran more events in 2020 than any previous year, defying the global pandemic to sustain a schedule that rarely dropped below weekly.
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