TLDR
- Geoff Neal will fight Uros Medic in the co-main event at UFC Houston on February 21, 2026
- Neal declined a proposed rematch against Kevin Holland, who publicly criticized the decision
- Neal has won only one of his last four fights and is coming off a knockout loss to Carlos Prates
- Medic has won his last two fights by first-round knockout and has finished all 12 of his career victories
- Betting odds favor Neal at -185 while Medic is listed as the underdog at +160
Sources: tapology.com | wewantpicks.com | sports.yahoo.com
Geoff Neal will face Uros Medic in the co-main event at UFC Houston on February 21 at the Toyota Center. The matchup comes after Neal declined a proposed rematch against Kevin Holland, leaving the UFC to find a different opponent for the Texas native.
Holland publicly agreed to fight Neal and announced the bout on social media in early January. The rematch would have revisited their January 2017 encounter when both fighters were competing in the regional Texas MMA scene.
Neal officially declined the Holland matchup in early January, forcing the promotion to pivot. Holland expressed his frustration on social media after learning Neal would still compete in Houston against a different opponent, posting “How they reward the bum.”
The Doctor's latest appointment 🥼 🩺 #UFCHouston
🇷🇸 @Urketaraketa vs Geoff Neal 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/8N0Ex1I0Yy
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) February 11, 2026
Neal Looking to Rebound at Home
The 35-year-old Neal enters the bout with a 16-7 professional record. He has won only one of his last four fights, defeating Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 308 in October 2024.
Neal is coming off a knockout loss to Carlos Prates at UFC 319. His recent struggles include defeats to top contenders Ian Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov, making this home-state appearance critical for his welterweight standing.
The Dallas-based fighter is ranked No. 13 in the UFC welterweight division. He trains out of Fortis MMA and is known for his powerful striking, earning him the nickname “Handz of Steel.”
Medic Brings Knockout Streak to Texas
Medic holds a 12-3 professional record and is ranked No. 19 in the UFC welterweight division. The 32-year-old Serbian fighter has finished all 12 of his career victories, with eight coming by knockout.
The fighter known as “The Doctor” has won his last two bouts by first-round knockout. He most recently stopped veteran Muslim Salikhov in just 63 seconds at UFC Vegas 111 in November 2024.
Medic trains out of Anchorage Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Alaska. Every one of his UFC fights has ended in a stoppage, with seven of his 12 wins coming in the first round.
Both fighters are listed at 5’11” and will compete at the 170-pound welterweight limit. Neal holds a four-inch reach advantage at 75 inches compared to Medic’s 71-inch reach.
The Tapology community has picked Neal to win, with 72% of over 2,900 users predicting a victory for the American. Betting odds list Neal as a slight favorite at -185, while Medic sits at +160 as the underdog.
The bout serves as the co-main event on a card headlined by Sean Strickland versus Anthony Hernandez in a middleweight matchup. The event will stream on Paramount+ starting at 5:00 PM ET on February 21, 2026.
