The CES welterweight champ is enjoying life as a vastly improved fighter and an overall better version of himself. No, this isn’t the same O’Neil you remember from The Ultimate Fighter 13. That O’Neil admittedly “hit like a b---h.”
With the help of boxing and MMA trainer "Diamond" Dave Keefe, this newer version of O’Neil is turning over his hips and relying on refined technique instead of caveman toughness. Ricardo Funch was the first victim of Keefe's training, which O’Neil has attributed to much of his recent success.
It was on full display for a second time in O'Neil's first-ever CES title defense in January against Emmanuel Walo, who was knocked cold in roughly 11 seconds.