Jim Malaro predicted Carlos Prates will hand Geoff Neal the first knockout loss of his career. He said the Brazilian "leveled up" during his five-round showing against Ian Garry and, in a three-rounder, can attack at full throttle without cardio concerns. Neal’s upright, flat-footed stance makes him a stationary target for Prates’ single-shot sniping power; because Prates doesn’t need combinations, one clean strike is enough. Malaro therefore likes Prates inside the distance and expects an emphatic statement finish.

TheWeasle predicted Carlos Prates will knock out Geoff Neal in round three. Prates owns a sizable reach advantage, a thudding right straight, and punishing clinch knees, giving him the edge both at range and inside. Neal’s southpaw counter-left is live early, but his head movement fades and he has been hurt by single shots before. The analyst referenced Prates' history of one-shot knockdowns, including the Ian Garry bout where he failed to swarm; he expects the Brazilian to adjust and finish with ground-and-pound this time. Once Neal stalls in front of him late, Prates steps outside the lead foot and lands the straight right for the KO.

Lurato called Geoff Neal a “match-up-predicated” fighter who shines when an opponent is willing to square up and trade in pocket exchanges. He likened Neal to teammate Chris Curtis – deadly when allowed to find rhythm mid-range – and predicted Carlos Prates will oblige that style. Prates’ tendency to march forward upright and plant to throw combinations should give Neal the stationary target he needs for his south-paw straight left and short hooks. Lurato warned that if you let Neal “catch a little rhythm and square up in the pocket, you’re asking for trouble,” and believes that scenario unfolds Saturday. He’s taking the underdog money on Neal and likes sprinkling Neal by KO/TKO, projecting a mid-fight finish once the Texan finds timing on Prates’ entries.

Dan Tom warned bettors not to lay ‑260 on Carlos Prates, labeling the matchup a classic "gun fight" where volatility favors the underdog. He acknowledged Prates’ 0-0 record versus UFC-level southpaws and praised Neal’s 2-0 mark, emphasizing that left-hand power is amplified in southpaw-on-southpaw bouts. Tom added that Neal’s head-hunting style means a single clean connection can flip the script, while Prates’ low guard leaves that lane open. Because the bout projects to be violent (under 2.5 rounds priced ‑155), Tom said the value sits on Neal or passing entirely, making it a clear dog-or-pass betting situation.

Madlab Michael Lurato called Geoff Neal a must-bet underdog, predicting a knockout despite the +210 price. Lurato argued Neal’s chin and willingness to walk through kicks let him crash the pocket where his crisp boxing and heavy left hand shine—an angle he called the "southpaw-vs-southpaw killer." He cited Ian Garry’s success pressuring Prates with calf-kicks as a proven blueprint, noting Neal brings even more punching power. Because Prates keeps his left hand low and needs space to kick, Madlab expects Neal to land the decisive counter once he enters mid-range. He advised playing Neal money-line or KO props and fading the ‑260 favorite.

Jon Anik highlighted Carlos Prates' upcoming fight against Ian Machado Gary as a considerable stylistic difficulty compared to Prates' cancelled matchup with Jeff Neal. Anik praised Prates' overall appeal and fighting persona, describing him as looking and acting like a real killer. Nevertheless, he emphasized concerns by explicitly calling the Ian Machado Gary bout a different and likely tougher matchup challenge. Anik suggests bettors and fantasy players take caution considering this elevated matchup challenge for Prates, who will face a distinctly different opponent and higher caliber test in Machado Gary.