5 Things You Might Not Know About Neil Magny

Neil Magny (21-6) is a welterweight contender who plies his trade in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. For his next outing, Magny will headline UFC Fight Night 140 opposite Santiago Ponzinibbio at the Parque Roca Arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Nov. 17.

As the big day draws closer, here are five things that you might not know about the Elevation Fight Team member.

1. He is as an active fighter.

In 2014, Magny competed five times under the UFC banner. His hectic schedule that year resulted in him tying with Roger Huerta for the most UFC wins in a calendar year. 2015 saw the busy combatant make a further five UFC appearances. Magny’s willingness to turn out for the Las Vegas-based promotion at every opportunity has led to him being perceived as a company man. The fact that Magny has contested 27 MMA bouts is remarkable when one considers that the 31-year-old only turned professional back in 2010.

2. He was on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Back in 2012, Magny was a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson.” He gained entry to the house by beating Frank Camacho via unanimous decision. In the first official fight of the season, Magny bested Cameron Diffley in a dominant decision win. A further unanimous decision triumph followed in the quarterfinal, against Bristol Marunde. However, Magny’s streak came to an end in the semi-finals when he fell victim to a first round Mike Ricci KO.

3. He is a hard worker.

Magny has built a reputation as a tough, hardworking competitor. The rangy pugilist often employs his cardio and relentless work ethic en route to claiming a decision victory. Eleven (52 percent) of Magny’s wins have come via decision. The remainder of his wins comprise 7 (33 percent) by KO/TKO and 3 (14 percent) by submission. Regardless of whether he has a fight in the offing, Magny spends the majority of his time honing his skills in the gym. He puts his work ethic down to the values instilled in him by his mother and grandmother.

4. He was in the military.

Prior to becoming a fulltime MMA athlete, Magny was in the armed forces. During his seven years in the military, Magny served as a light-wheeled mechanic, reached the rank of Army National Guard Sgt. in the Illinois National Guard and had a stint deployed in Afghanistan. Magny has stated in interviews that the discipline and toughness he developed from his mixed martial arts training helped him in difficult times in the army.

5. He hails from Brooklyn.

Magny currently resides in Colorado, where he trains with the Elevation Fight Team, as well as spending time at the Easton Training Center. However, Magny was born on the other side of the country, in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 3, 1987. His early years saw him moving constantly from apartment to apartment with his mother. In 2002, at the age of 15, Magny and his mother left New York for good and moved to Chicago. The hardworking future welterweight went on to graduate from high school and gain entry to Southern Illinois University, where he earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Today, he credits his challenging formative years in New York as being instrumental in making him the man he is today.