Josh Neer

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.

Early career

Neer began fighting in mixed martial arts in 2002 at the Toad Holler Fight Club where he started and finished his amateur career and went 11–0. Neer received his nickname "The Dentist" for knocking out the teeth of two opponent consecutively during his amateur career. Neer won four of the bouts by KO and four by submission. Neer would then enter MMA professionally. Even though that is all his record shows he was actually 89–1 at Toad Holler Fight Club sometimes fighting two to three times a night. His only loss as an amateur was to Kevin Burns of the Des Moines Jiu Jitsu Academy, a loss that he would go on to avenge later on in his amateur career.

Neer began his professional career on March 15, 2003 by knocking out Josh Kennedy. Neer then won twice and drew once before losing his first fight to Spencer "The King" Fisher by split decision. After losing to Fisher, Neer won his next ten fights, including the XKK (Xtreme Kage Kombat) Welterweight Championship.

UFC

Neer signed with the UFC and lost his first fight to Drew Fickett by submission at the inaugural 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 2 and beat Joe Stevenson, who won the Welterweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2, at Ultimate Fight Night 3. 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, but followed that defeat with a win at UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs Stephens over The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs Team Serra winner, Mac Danzig, by triangle choke in the second round.

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.

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. The chase lasted for 20 miles during which Neer reportedly hit speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour before blowing out a tire due to spike strips placed by police. 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.

Championships and accomplishments