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After navigating a wild 2020 schedule and managing to consistently churn out events despite an unprecedented global pandemic, the UFC will end its year with one final Fight Night event from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. An intriguing welterweight fight between former title contender Stephen Thompson and rising star Geoff Neal will serve as the main event.

Thompson started his career 13-1 and was viewed as a strong contender to become welterweight champion. He earned his shot at the belt against then-champion Tyron Woodley, battling to a thrilling draw in their first meeting in November 2016. In the March 2017 rematch, Thompson was again competitive, but lost a majority decision. Since that loss, Thompson has fallen out of immediate title contention with a 2-2 record, though a win over Neal could move him back into the conversation.

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Neal battled his way to a UFC contract with a win on Dana White's Contender Series in less than two minutes. He has since gone 5-0 with four wins coming by stoppage. In his two most recent fights, Neal picked up his biggest victories yet, stopping Niko Price and Mike Perry with strikes and cementing himself as one of the division's brightest prospects at 30 years old, nearly 8 years Thompson's junior.

Even beyond the main event, which wasn't even supposed to serve as the final fight for this card with Khamzat Imadaev expected to face Leon Edwards in that slot, this is one of the deepest events UFC has put out in 2020. With former champions and rising contenders scattered across the 12-fight event, there's sure to be fireworks as UFC closes out 2020 in style. Look no further than the co-main event when former featherweight champion Jose Aldo takes on rising contender Marlon Vera at bantamweight. Plus, the man who beat Aldo at this time last year, Marlon Moraes, is back when he takes on Rob Font in an important bantamweight showdown.

Here's the fight card for UFC Fight Night with the latest odds from William Hill Sportsbook.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

FavoriteUnderdogWeightclass

Geoff Neal -120

Stephen Thompson +100

Welterweight

Jose Aldo -150

Marlon Vera +125

Bantamweight

Michel Pereira -125

Khaos Williams +105

Welterweight

Marlon Moraes -150Rob Font +125Bantamweight
Gillian Robertson -115
Taila Santos -105
Women's flyweight
Greg Hardy -125Marcin Tybura +105
Heavyweight

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: Dec. 19 | Start time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: UFC APEX -- Las Vegas, Nevada
Stream: ESPN+

Prediction

Stephen Thompson vs. Geoff Neal: Thompson still has plenty of talent, but time does catch up to everyone and it's always hard to say how a guy who is nearly 38 is going to look after being out of the cage for more than a year. Neal has been out a similar length of time, but he's less likely to show any major changes in physical condition, reflexes or speed. Neal is growing in confidence, but this is still a big step up in competition for him. There are many intriguing questions coming into the fight, but the edge likely rests with Neal, who should be able to apply enough pressure to eventually wear Thompson down and get a mid-fight stoppage. The opening round may look good for Thompson, but Neal should be able to make the necessary adjustments. Pick: Geoff Neal via TKO3