38-year-old Neil Magny sets goal to re-enter UFC welterweight rankings
LAS VEGAS – Don't count Neil Magny out of the world's best just yet.
Following an impressive TKO win over Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Magny, 38, made it clear that he intends to work his way back to the official UFC welterweight rankings, and be once again among the top 15 fighters in his weight class. Magny (30-13 MMA, 23-12 UFC) stopped Zaleski dos Santos (25-10-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) this past Saturday in the main card of UFC on ESPN 71 – which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The first goal for Magny was to get back in the win column, and with that checked out, he now looks up the top 15 of the welterweight division.
"I tell everybody, you just have to set those goals and start knocking them out," Magny told MMA Junkie at the UFC on ESPN 71 post-fight press conference. "Goal 1 was to go out there a d get a win, that part is done. Now let's go find the next opponent, and hopefully it gets me closer to the rankings, and before you know it, I'm right back in there, ready to go."
Big night for Neil Magny at #UFCVegas108. He was surprised with a black belt backstage while enjoying birthday cake.🥋🎂 pic.twitter.com/i3x8i2NVVB
Magny, who's been fighting in the UFC since 2013, was coming off stoppage loses to young contenders Michael Morales and Carlos Prates prior to UFC on ESPN 71. With the win, not only was he able to stop a skid, but he also furthered his record for the most wins in UFC welterweight history.
Despite nearing 40 years of age and having over 40 professional MMA fights, "The Haitian Sensation" is still feeling good, and very much liked the way he performed against Zaleski dos Santos.
"Man, I felt great," Magny said. "Elizeu is a great opponent, he's a veteran as well. He made some really good adjustments in his training camp to come out here and fight in a way he thought he had the best chance of winning. He definitely pulled a different approach than what we're used to seeing from him in film. It just made him be an offensive grappler in that fight, but we're both veterans, and we figure out a way to get it done."
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