The UFC
314 main card has taken a hit, as a welterweight bout pitting
Geoff
Neal against Carlos
Prates has been removed from the lineup.
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It was announced during the UFC Mexico broadcast on Saturday that
Neal was forced to withdraw from the event due to injury. Prates
will not remain on the card against a replacement opponent, but UFC
commentator Jon Anik indicated that there could be big news
involving the rising Brazilian star in the weeks to come.
UFC 314 takes place on April 12 at the Kaseya Center in Miami and
is headlined by a featherweight championship fight pitting Alexander
Volkanovski against Diego
Lopes. It is currently unclear what will replace Neal vs.
Prates on the main card.
Neal snapped a two-bout skid in his last outing, when he defeated
Rafael dos
Anjos via first-round TKO at UFC 308 this past October. “Handz
of Steel” is 8-4 during his promotional tenure.
Prates has emerged as a person of interest at 170 pounds after
winning his first four Octagon appearances via knockout. Most
recently, “The Nightmare” knocked out Neil Magny in
the opening stanza at UFC Fight Night 247 this past November.