Josh Neer

Joshua Martin Neer (born March 24, 1983) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and former mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2003, he has competed for the UFC, Bellator, the Quad Cities Silverbacks of the IFL, and Shark Fights. Neer is the former Shark Fights Interim Welterweight Champion.

Background Neer is from Des Moines, Iowa, and began wrestling when he was six years old. In high school, he played football, was an All-Conference baseball player, and in wrestling, he finished fourth in the state for his senior season. Neer continued wrestling at Waldorf College, but got injured and dropped out after only a year. Neer began boxing when he was 18 years old.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Neer went 89–1 as an amateur, sometimes fighting two to three times in one night. He received his nickname "The Dentist", by knocking the teeth out of two consecutive opponents during his amateur career.

Neer began his professional career on March 15, 2003, by knocking out Josh Kennedy. He proceeded to win twice, and draw once, before losing to Spencer "The King" Fisher by split decision. After losing to Fisher, Neer won each of his next ten fights.

UFC Neer signed with the UFC and lost his first fight to Drew Fickett by submission at the inaugural UFC Ultimate Fight Night.

Neer fought his next three fights outside the UFC and went 2–1 before going back to the UFC. He submitted Melvin Guillard at Ultimate Fight Night 3 earning the first ever Fight of the Night award, and beat Joe Stevenson, who won the Welterweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2, at Ultimate Fight Night 4. Neer then lost his next two fights, to Josh Burkman at UFC 61 and by submission to Nick Diaz at UFC 62.

Again out of the UFC, Neer went 6–1 in his next seven fights before returning to defeat Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night: Florian vs Lauzon. He lost to Nate Diaz in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs Neer on September 17, 2008. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

He followed that defeat with a win at UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs Stephens on February 17, 2009 over The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs Team Serra winner, Mac Danzig, by triangle choke in the second round. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

Neer lost a unanimous decision over Kurt Pellegrino. Throughout the fight Neer made signals that Pellegrino was not doing anything, and was visibly upset at the end of the third round. Neer fought Gleison Tibau as a late replacement for injured Sean Sherk at UFC 104 on October 24, 2009, and lost the fight due to a unanimous decision. Neer was subsequently released from the UFC with a record of 2–3 since his return to the organization.

Post-UFC In his first fight following his latest UFC release, Neer defeated Matt Delanoit by TKO at MAX Fights DM Ballroom Brawl IV in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 8. He followed up with another win at Shark Fights 8, winning the Interim Welterweight Championship, which he also successfully defended once.

UFC return Neer returned to the UFC to defeat Keith Wisniewski by TKO (cut) at the end of the second round on October 1, 2011, at UFC on Versus 6.

Neer next faced Duane Ludwig on January 20, 2012, at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller. Despite being hurt on several occasions via Ludwig's punches, Neer persevered and won the fight via technical submission in the first round.

Neer faced Mike Pyle on June 8, 2012, at UFC on FX 3. Pyle defeated Neer via first-round knockout.

Neer fought Justin Edwards on October 5, 2012, at UFC on FX 5. He lost the fight via guillotine choke 45 seconds into the first round.

Neer faced Ultimate Fighter Season 11 winner Court McGee on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. Neer lost the bout via unanimous decision. He was subsequently released from the UFC again after his loss to McGee.

Independent circuit On December 14, 2013, Neer faced former UFC veteran Anthony Smith at VFC 41. Neer won via submission (rear-naked choke). Neer then faced Ron Jackson at MCC 54: Grigsby vs. Morrow on June 27, 2014. He won the fight via first round TKO.

Bellator At Bellator 17, Neer was defeated by Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez via rear-naked choke at 2:08 in the second round. Alvarez gained control of Neer's back in the standing position. Neer refused to tap, and was rendered unconscious as a result.

Neer returned to the promotion to face Paul Bradley on October 17, 2014, at Bellator 129. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and left frustrated by the repeated ground attack by Bradley.

Neer was scheduled to face Matt Secor at Bellator 140 on July 17, 2015. However, this fight did not happen.

Neer eventually made his return against André Santos at Bellator 146 on November 20, 2015. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Post-Bellator After the second, two-fight stint in Bellator, Neer faced Anthony Smith in a rematch at VFC 47 on January 14, 2016. He lost the fight via first-round knockout.

Personal life Neer has a daughter. Before he was fighting professionally, Neer worked in construction.

On New Year's Eve 2008 Neer was involved in a high-speed chase with law enforcement in Des Moines, Iowa, after reportedly hitting a squad car before fleeing the scene. He faced charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, eluding police, hit-and-run, and various other traffic violations. He pleaded guilty to two charges and did not receive jail time but instead received a suspended sentence.

Bare-knuckle boxing Neer competed in a bare-knuckle boxing match at 200 lbs. for the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation on November 9, 2018. He won after his opponent retired two minutes into the third round.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Melvin Guillard, Nate Diaz and Mac Danzig UFC.com Awards 2006: Submission of the Year 2008: Ranked #8 Fight of the Year

Shark Fights Shark Fights Interim Welterweight Championship (One time) One successful title defense Victory Fighting Championship VFC Welterweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Anthony Smith TKO (elbows) VFC 47

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Loss

André Santos Decision (unanimous) Bellator 146

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Paul Bradley Decision (unanimous) Bellator 129

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

Travis Coyle Submission (armbar) VFC 43

Ralston, Nebraska, United States Win

Ron Jackson TKO (punches) MCC 54: Grigsby vs. Morrow

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Anthony Smith Submission (rear-naked choke) VFC 41

Ralston, Nebraska, United States Loss

Court McGee Decision (unanimous) UFC 157

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Justin Edwards Technical Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Loss

Mike Pyle KO (punch) UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall

Sunrise, Florida, United States Win

Duane Ludwig Technical Submission (guillotine choke) UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Keith Wisniewski TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson

Washington, D.C., United States Win

Blas Avena TKO (punches and elbows) Superior Cage Combat 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jesse Juarez TKO (doctor stoppage) Shark Fights 16: Neer vs. Juarez

Odessa, Texas, United States Win

Andre Kase TKO (punches) WWFC 2: Neer vs. Kase

Clive, Iowa, United States Win

Jesse Finney Submission (guillotine choke) Fight Me MMA 1: The Battle Begins

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Loss

Eddie Alvarez Technical Submission (standing rear-naked choke) Bellator 17

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Win

Anselmo Martinez Submission (rear-naked choke) Shark Fights 8: Super Brawl

Lubbock, Texas, United States Win

Matt Delanoit KO (punches) Max Fights DM: Ballroom Brawl 4

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Return to Welterweight. Loss

Gleison Tibau Decision (unanimous) UFC 104

Los Angeles, California, United States Loss

Kurt Pellegrino Decision (unanimous) UFC 101

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Mac Danzig Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. Stephens

Tampa, Florida, United States Loss

Nate Diaz Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs Neer

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Win

Din Thomas Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Win

Nick Sorg Submission (armbar) C3: Smokey Mountain Showdown

Cherokee, North Carolina, United States Win

Paul Rodriguez TKO (punches) Greensparks: Full Contact Fighting 5

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Loss

Mark Miller KO (punch) IFL: Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Tyson Burris TKO (submission to punches) FSG: Coliseum Carnage

Ames, Iowa, United States Win

Mark Gearhart TKO (punches) Greensparks: Full Contact Fighting 3

Iowa, United States Win

TJ Waldburger TKO (punches) IFC: Road to Global Domination

Belton, Texas, United States Win

Wayne Hajicek TKO (submission to punches) MCC 5: Thanksgiving Throwdown

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Loss

Nick Diaz Submission (kimura) UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Josh Burkman Decision (unanimous) UFC 61: Bitter Rivals

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Joe Stevenson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night 4

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Melvin Guillard Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night 3

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Alex Carter TKO (punches) XKK: Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Loss

Nick Thompson Submission (rear-naked choke) Extreme Challenge 64

Osceola, Iowa, United States Win

Forrest Petz Submission (triangle choke) FFC 15: Fiesta Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Drew Fickett Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Ultimate Fight Night

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Todd Kiser TKO (submission to punches) Extreme Challenge 62

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

Mark Long KO (punch) XKK: Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Jay Jack Decision (unanimous) Extreme Challenge 61

Medina, Minnesota, United States Win

Derrick Noble Submission (triangle choke) XKK: Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Terrance Reasby TKO (punches) Downtown Destruction 2

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Mark Bear KO (knees) VFC 8: Fallout

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

David Gardner TKO (punches) XKK: Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Anthony Macias TKO (punches) FFC 11: Explosion

Biloxi, Mississippi, United States Win

Fred Leavy TKO (punches) Xtreme Kage Kombat

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Win

Kyle Jensen Submission (armbar) Extreme Challenge 57

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Loss

Spencer Fisher Decision (split) VFC 7: Showdown

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

Joe Chacon Decision (unanimous) XKK: Clash in Curtiss 4

Curtiss, Wisconsin, United States Draw

Joe Jordan Draw AFA: Judgment Night

Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States Win

Royce Louck TKO (punches) Absolute Ada Fights 4

Ada, Minnesota, United States Win

Josh Kennedy KO (slam) Gladiators 20

Des Moines, Iowa, United States Professional boxing record Result Record Opponent Method Round, time Date Location