Neil Magny Hints at Khamzat Chimaev Matchup After Leon Edwards Drops Out
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It seems like the UFC veteran, Neil Magny, has come to the rescue for the UFC Vegas 17 main event on December 19. Initially, Leon Edwards was scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev in the headlining fight, but a COVID-19 positive test ruled him out of the contest. Right after the news broke out, Neil Magny took to Twitter and expressed his notions.
He tweeted, “5 round fight in 2 weeks, wouldn’t be the first for me! Holla at me (UFC)”
5 round fight in 2 weeks, wouldn't be the first for me! Holla at me @ufc
— Neil Magny (@NeilMagny) December 1, 2020
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In 2015, Rick Story was supposed to face Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 74. But, the former pulled out of the fight for some undisclosed reasons and Magny replaced him. He showed up to the octagon on a 2-week notice and won the bout.
READ – UFC Suffer Another Big Blow- Khamzat Chimaev vs Leon Edwards Canceled
The #9 ranked welterweight fighter made his promotional debut in 2013. He has cobbled up a 24-8 professional record and is keen on moving up the rankings. In 2020, Magny fought thrice and won all of them. His last win came in August against Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision. However, there is a minor obstacle for the fighter who wants to claim a fourth win this year.
Chimaev’s corner seems uninterested in fighting Neil Magny
Khamzat Chimaev and his team have shown no interest in Neil Magny’s peculiar call out to step on this fight. Instead, the UFC might push Edwards vs Chimaev in early 2021. Geoff Neal and Stephen Thompson will headline the December 19 main event.
A month ago, in conversation with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, Magny chatted about this whole instance and why he thinks Khamzat Chimaev’s team is dodging him.
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"I think it's pretty obvious at this point that his team and himself believe the easier matchup for him was Leon Edwards."@NeilMagny told @arielhelwani why he believes Khamzat Chimaev opted to fight Edwards and not Magny, who had been campaigning. pic.twitter.com/LsWgD6SX7i
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 28, 2020
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He said, “The only thing I can possibly think of that caused this fight to not go through is his team thought it was a better match-up for him. I am not gonna sit here and toot my horn and say that fighting an eight ranked guy is better than a third [ranked] guy, no? His team might have thought that Leon Edwards was the easier fight for him. He matches-up better against Edwards than he would against me.”
The much-hyped Khamzat Chimaev has propelled to stardom within no time. The Swedish Mixed Martial Artist has a 9-0 record in MMA. His bout with Edwards was considered as one of the best matchups to end the year with, but unfortunately, it has joined the scrap heap.
Magny, too, could have been an elite matchup for Chimaev as both the fighters have active win streaks of three fights each. The American was pumped to enter the octagon against Chimaev and prove his worth in the 170lbs class, but looks like he will have to wait for a substantial duration to fight the ‘Borz’.
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Should the UFC and Khamzat Chimaev take up Neil Magny on his offer? Will a month have changed the situation?
READ – Comparing Khamzat Chimaev to Khabib Nurmagomedov Is Unfair Says Chael Sonnen