LAS VEGAS – UFC welterweight mainstay Neil Magny is tasked with taking on another rising star, but believes his experience will be something like Vin Diesel behind the wheel of a fast car on the silver screen.
Magny (29-11 MMA, 22-10 UFC), who holds the record for most wins in the UFC’s welterweight division with 22, meets undefeated Michael Morales on the main card of UFC on ESPN 62 at the UFC Apex. It will be Magny’s third consecutive opponent with one or no losses.
Whether it’s Ian Machado Garry, Mike Malott, or Morales (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), the 30-plus fight UFC veteran Magny approaches every training camp with the same intensity. Since there’s so much film on him, he feels pressure to bring new things to the table.
“I need training camp to be as difficult as possible to prepare me emotionally, physically, mentally for what’s going to happen on fight night,” Magny said at Wednesday’s media day. “I feel like this training camp did just that. There’s literally been days that I was walking out of the gym in tears, head down, not wanting to deal with anyone because of how difficult the training was. For me, I feel like that’s a recipe for success.”
Not getting complacent in the training room has been a big focus for Magny. He understands that he will be the target for up-and-comers who try to establish their own name from his, but ultimately, he believes his experience is a key advantage. He compares it to the steel composure of Vin Diesel in the long-running action movie series “Fast and Furious.”
“My last fight, I used the analogy of watching Vin Diesel in a ‘Fast and Furious’ movie, where it’s like he’s always racing the other guy and other guy has that slight edge and he hits that NOS button,” Magny explained. “Then it’s like, ‘Oh, no! Vin Diesel’s going to finally lose a race!’ Then Vin Diesel always sits back and says, ‘Ha. Too soon. I got you.’ Then just sprints off to the finish line.
“I feel like that’s what this fight’s going to be exactly. I’m going to go out there and really showcase my entire skillset. From grappling to striking to wrestling, just go out there and be a really evolved version of myself on Saturday night.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.
