Neil Magny
Age: 30
Nationality: American
MMA Record: 20-6
UFC Record: 13-5
Notable Wins: Carlos Condit, Johny Hendricks, Hector Lombard, Kelvin Gastelum
Notable Losses: Rafael Dos Anjos, Lorenz Larkin, Demian Maia
Last Fight: Decision win over Carlos Condit
Fighter Profile: One of the most well-rounded and complete welterweights in the UFC, Magny has turned into a terrific mixed martial artist since losing to Mike Ricci on TUF 16. Magny has fought and competed against many of the best 170lbers the UFC has had to offer and for the most part has been on the winning side of things with a terrific 13-5 record in the UFC. He’s defeated the likes of Kelvin Gastelum and Johny Hendricks and has only lost to really top fighters like Demian Maia, Lorenz Larkin and Rafael Dos Anjos, plus a loss to Sergio Moraes early in his MMA career when he didn’t have much of a ground game. Although he has been susceptible to getting finished in his losses, overall Magny has proven that he has an incredible gas tank and the ability to go deep into fights and finish them, and a win over Craig White would help him maintain his top-15 ranking in the UFC.
Craig White
Age: 27
Nationality: British
MMA Record: 14-7
UFC Record: Debut
Notable Wins: None
Notable Losses: Leon Edwards
Last Fight: Submission win over Alex Montagnani in Cage Warriors
Fighter Profile: A former standout in Cage Warriors, White was signed to the UFC on short notice when Gunnar Nelson pulled out of this fight against Neil Magny. White wasted no time in accepting the fight and now he gets his chance to prove himself in the Octagon. The Brit is coming off of four-straight stoppage wins in Cage Warriors to earn his shot in the Octagon, and with all the momentum he has right now it should be interesting to see how he performs on the big stage. The problem with White is that he’s been finished six times already in his young career, and that is a problem when he steps up in competition and fights the likes of Magny in the UFC. White has some promise as a prospect, but this is a really hard UFC debut and it’s not surprising at all to see him as a massive underdog in this matchup.
Fight Breakdown: The line reflects my thoughts on this bout as I just think this is a big mismatch between one of the best welterweights in the world and a prospect making his UFC debut on very short notice. Magny has proven throughout his UFC career that he’s an extremely well-rounded fighter with an unlimited gas tank and he has the killer instinct to finish fights. White has looked good in Cage Warriors, but the UFC is another level of the sport, and all of those previous stoppage losses to White really worry me. Maybe White surprises here, but I just don’t see it. I see Magny dominating this fight right off the opening bell, eventually getting the fight to the ground and finding a way to get a stoppage win. I’d lean towards a late TKO, but a submission is certainly possible. Either way I really like Magny to finish this fight.
Prediction: Neil Magny via TKO
