Geoff Neal (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

The UFC’s next card has lost a pivotal, welterweight contest, as it’s being reported Geoff Neal has been forced out of his bout with Shavkat Rakhmonov.

The fighters were booked to square off at the UFC’s January 14th card in Las Vegas. However, several outlets are reporting that Neal has withdrawn from the contest due to an undisclosed injury. Igor Lazorin was reportedly the first to report the development.

Neal (15-4) is coming off a KO win over Vicente Luque in August and is 3-2 in his last 5 bouts.

Rakhmonov (16-0), meanwhile, submitted Neil Magny in June and has won all four of his UFC fights to date.

The latter is ranked #10 in the UFC’s welterweight rankings while Neal is sitting in the #7 spot.