UFC gave me a free pass to the UFC Manila Ultimate Media Day on May 14, 2015. I was about to walk upstairs when I saw Neil Magny and he was like walking in front of me, but were too starstruck to go up to him.
On March 10, 2015 during the UFC Fight Night Manila’s first ever On-Sale Event, I found out that the product of The Ultimate Fighter was in the card. Hyun Gyu Lim was his opponent. The fight I was most excited about.
On Fight Night’s Day, I saw Magny walking towards the coaster that took him and his team at the Mall Of Asia arena. So happy to finally gotten a photo with one of my favorite warriors of the octagon.
It was a rough first round for Magny as the jabs keep landing on him. I covered my eyes when Lim dropped him with a knee. After getting outscored by the Korean figher, Magny came back in round two. He showcased beautiful skilled grappling as he body lock and pound ‘The Ace’ out until the referee stops the fight. That TKO win moved his winning streak to seven and earned him the Performance Of The Night bonus. Magny’s seven-fight UFC winning streak was the longest active streak in the welterweight division. He was ranked 15th at that time.
Neil Magny and Hyu Gyun Lim and Manila UFC on May 16, 2015
He got submitted and was unable to get his 8th straight wins against Damian Maia at UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia but got himself a quick turnaround. Neil Magny agreed to step up for the injured Rick Story, beat Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 74: Holloway vs. Oliveira.
The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum aka UFC Fight Night 78 was supposed to be a bout between Matt Brown and injured Kelvin Gastelum. 12-ranked Magny again accepted the fight on late notice and got the main event. This was his fifth fight in 2015. God bless this hard working soul more. Neil Magny’s work ethic is solid and that’s what creates great success. Magny was taking Gastelum to school on grappling. He earned a split decision victory and took home Fight of the Night bonus. He moved up on the 9th in the official UFC welterweight rankings.
Neil Magny’s first fight of 2016, met Hector Lombard at UFC Fight Night 85: Hunt vs. Mir. That was March 19 and my son’s birthday. The fight went controversial cause of the referee’s awful decision. Magny almost killed Lombard due to late stoppage. The former US army was smashing the defenselessly former Olympic judoka on top with his ground and pound. In that fight, I saw the best triangle choke and arm lock of the year. Neil Magny got the win and stoppage only in the third. It was a wild fight so no wonder it earned him the Performance Of The Night bonus.
Neil Magny is currently ranked no. 7 in the division. I knew from the beginning when I saw him coming from behind to finish Rodrigo De Lima at UFC Fight Night 43: Te Huna vs. Marquardt, Neil Magny is something! He is 11-3 in the UFC (18-4 overall) and the history of Elevation Fight Team’s welterweight contender are as follows:
⬆Defeated Hector Lombard in the third round by TKO (punches) at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir on March 20, 2016
⬆Defeated Kelvin Gastelum in round 5 by Decision (split) at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale Latin America: Magny vs. Gastelum on November 21, 2015
⬆Defeated Erick Silva in round 3 by Decision (Split) at UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira on August 23, 2015
⬇Defeated by Demian Maia in the second round by Submission (rear-naked choke) at UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia on August 1, 2015
⬆Defeated Hyun Gyu Lim in the second round by TKO (punches) at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber on May 16, 2015
⬆Defeated Kiichi Kunimoto in round 3 by Submission (rear-naked choke) at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch on February 14, 2015
⬆Defeated William Macario in the third round by TKO (punches) at UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 on October 25, 2014
⬆Defeated Alex Garcia in the third round by Decision (unanimous) at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos on August 23, 2014
⬆Defeated Rodrigo de Lima in the second round by KO (punches) at UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt on June 28, 2014
⬆Defeated Tim Means in round 3 by Decision (unanimous) at UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva on May 10, 2014
⬆Defeated Gasan Umalatov in round 3 by Decision (unanimous) at UFC 169: Barão vs. Faber II on February 1, 2014
⬇Defeated by Seth Baczynski in round 3 by Decision (unanimous) at UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 on November 6, 2013
⬇Defeated by Sérgio Moraes in Round 1 by Submission (triangle choke) at UFC 163: Aldo vs. Korean Zombie on August 3, 2013
⬆Defeated Jon Manley in round 3 by Decision (unanimous) at UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche on February 23, 2013
He will try to get his second victory of 2016 (fourth consecutive) against Lorenz Larkin at UFC 202: Diaz vs. McGregor 2. He is scheduled to fight Dong Hyun Kim until the korean suffered from an injury. I so wanted him to fight Tyron Woodley then. Neil Magny fears no one and is notorious for taking fights when he got the call with a full camp or not.
This man is the most hard working with a heart I have ever seen. It sure would lead him to a spot near the top of the rankings and a title will be around his waist one day. Watch!
Neil Magny have gone on to achieve unbelievable levels of success. I am proud to call myself a fan.
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