# 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 Encyclopedia Awards
*** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Joe Stevenson
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2006: Submission of the Year vs. Melvin Guillard
*** 2008: Ranked #8 Fight of the Year vs. Nate Diaz
* 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

Professional record breakdown :
| 55 matches | 36 wins | 18 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 3 |
| By submission | 11 | 5 |
| By decision | 4 | 10 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 36–16–1 | Anthony Smith | TKO (elbows) | VFC 47 | January 14, 2016 | 1 | 3:27 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Loss | 36–15–1 | André Santos | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 146 | November 20, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 36–14–1 | Paul Bradley | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 129 | October 17, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 36–13–1 | Travis Coyle | Submission (armbar) | VFC 43 | August 2, 2014 | 1 | 1:37 | Ralston, Nebraska, United States | Won the vacant VFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 35–13–1 | Ron Jackson | TKO (punches) | MCC 54: Grigsby vs. Morrow | June 27, 2014 | 1 | 4:20 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | 180 lb. Catchweight bout. |
| Win | 34–13–1 | Anthony Smith | Submission (rear-naked choke) | VFC 41 | December 14, 2013 | 3 | 3:48 | Ralston, Nebraska, United States | 175 lb. Catchweight bout. |
| Loss | 33–13–1 | Court McGee | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 157 | February 23, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Loss | 33–12–1 | Justin Edwards | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot | October 5, 2012 | 1 | 0:45 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Loss | 33–11–1 | Mike Pyle | KO (punch) | UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall | June 8, 2012 | 1 | 4:56 | Sunrise, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 33–10–1 | Duane Ludwig | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller | January 20, 2012 | 1 | 3:04 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 32–10–1 | Keith Wisniewski | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson | October 1, 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Washington, D.C., United States | |
| Win | 31–10–1 | Blas Avena | TKO (punches and elbows) | Superior Cage Combat 2 | August 20, 2011 | 1 | 2:54 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 30–10–1 | Jesse Juarez | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Shark Fights 16: Neer vs. Juarez | June 25, 2011 | 1 | 4:57 | Odessa, Texas, United States | Defended the interim Shark Fights Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 29–10–1 | Andre Kase | TKO (punches) | WWFC 2: Neer vs. Kase | April 9, 2011 | 1 | 0:20 | Clive, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 28–10–1 | Jesse Finney | Submission (guillotine choke) | Fight Me MMA 1: The Battle Begins | August 14, 2010 | 1 | 4:09 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | 175 lb. Catchweight bout. |
| Loss | 27–10–1 | Eddie Alvarez | Technical Submission (standing rear-naked choke) | Bellator 17 | May 6, 2010 | 2 | 2:08 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | 160 lb. Catchweight bout. |
| Win | 27–9–1 | Anselmo Martinez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shark Fights 8: Super Brawl | February 5, 2010 | 1 | 3:05 | Lubbock, Texas, United States | Won the interim Shark Fights Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 26–9–1 | Matt Delanoit | KO (punches) | Max Fights DM: Ballroom Brawl 4 | January 8, 2010 | 1 | 3:48 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 25–9–1 | Gleison Tibau | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 104 | October 24, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | 157 lb. Catchweight bout. |
| Loss | 25–8–1 | Kurt Pellegrino | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 101 | August 8, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 25–7–1 | Mac Danzig | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. Stephens | February 7, 2009 | 2 | 3:36 | Tampa, Florida, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 24–7–1 | Nate Diaz | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs Neer | September 17, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Omaha, Nebraska, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 24–6–1 | Din Thomas | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon | April 2, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 23–6–1 | Nick Sorg | Submission (armbar) | C3: Smokey Mountain Showdown | October 27, 2007 | 1 | 2:16 | Cherokee, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 22–6–1 | Paul Rodriguez | TKO (punches) | Greensparks: Full Contact Fighting 5 | July 27, 2007 | 1 | 1:39 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 21–6–1 | Mark Miller | KO (punch) | IFL: Chicago | May 19, 2007 | 1 | 0:54 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 21–5–1 | Tyson Burris | TKO (submission to punches) | FSG: Coliseum Carnage | April 8, 2007 | 1 | 2:31 | Ames, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 20–5–1 | Mark Gearhart | TKO (punches) | Greensparks: Full Contact Fighting 3 | March 17, 2007 | 1 | 0:21 | Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 19–5–1 | TJ Waldburger | TKO (punches) | IFC: Road to Global Domination | March 4, 2007 | 1 | 0:24 | Belton, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 18–5–1 | Wayne Hajicek | TKO (submission to punches) | MCC 5: Thanksgiving Throwdown | November 22, 2006 | 1 | 2:30 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 17–5–1 | Nick Diaz | Submission (kimura) | UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral | August 26, 2006 | 3 | 1:42 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 17–4–1 | Josh Burkman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 61: Bitter Rivals | July 8, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–3–1 | Joe Stevenson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 4 | April 6, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–3–1 | Melvin Guillard | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night 3 | January 16, 2006 | 1 | 4:20 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. Submission of the Year. |
| Win | 15–3–1 | Alex Carter | TKO (punches) | XKK: Des Moines | November 23, 2005 | 1 | 3:43 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 14–3–1 | Nick Thompson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Extreme Challenge 64 | October 15, 2005 | 2 | 2:19 | Osceola, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 14–2–1 | Forrest Petz | Submission (triangle choke) | FFC 15: Fiesta Las Vegas | September 14, 2005 | 1 | 3:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–2–1 | Drew Fickett | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Ultimate Fight Night | August 6, 2005 | 1 | 1:35 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–1–1 | Todd Kiser | TKO (submission to punches) | Extreme Challenge 62 | June 18, 2005 | 1 | 1:41 | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 12–1–1 | Mark Long | KO (punch) | XKK: Des Moines | May 20, 2005 | 1 | 0:54 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 11–1–1 | Jay Jack | Decision (unanimous) | Extreme Challenge 61 | April 22, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Medina, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 10–1–1 | Derrick Noble | Submission (triangle choke) | XKK: Des Moines | March 19, 2005 | 1 | 3:22 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 9–1–1 | Terrance Reasby | TKO (punches) | Downtown Destruction 2 | February 2, 2005 | 2 | 0:52 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 8–1–1 | Mark Bear | KO (knees) | VFC 8: Fallout | November 27, 2004 | 3 | 3:40 | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 7–1–1 | David Gardner | TKO (punches) | XKK: Des Moines | October 30, 2004 | 1 | 1:55 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 6–1–1 | Anthony Macias | TKO (punches) | FFC 11: Explosion | September 10, 2004 | 1 | 0:41 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | |
| Win | 5–1–1 | Fred Leavy | TKO (punches) | Xtreme Kage Kombat | August 7, 2004 | 1 | 3:44 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 4–1–1 | Kyle Jensen | Submission (armbar) | Extreme Challenge 57 | May 6, 2004 | 3 | 1:04 | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| Loss | 3–1–1 | Spencer Fisher | Decision (split) | VFC 7: Showdown | March 6, 2004 | 5 | 5:00 | Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 3–0–1 | Joe Chacon | Decision (unanimous) | XKK: Clash in Curtiss 4 | February 7, 2004 | 3 | 3:00 | Curtiss, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Draw | 2–0–1 | Joe Jordan | Draw | AFA: Judgment Night | January 17, 2004 | 3 | 3:00 | Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Royce Louck | TKO (punches) | Absolute Ada Fights 4 | September 13, 2003 | 1 | 1:43 | Ada, Minnesota, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Josh Kennedy | KO (slam) | Gladiators 20 | March 15, 2003 | 1 | 3:41 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |

## Professional boxing record

| 1 fight | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Ron Krull | TKO | 1 (4), 2:09 | Dec 17, 2004 | Clive, Iowa, U.S. | |

## Bare knuckle record

Professional record breakdown :
| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 1–0 | Mike Alderete | TKO (retirement) | World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation | November 9, 2018 | 3 | 2:00 | Casper, Wyoming, United States | |