UFC welterweight, ‘The Haitian Sensation’ Neil Magny is set to return in the octagon against ‘Proper’ Mike Malott, who is 3-0 inside the UFC octagon. Magny is coming into the fight as an underdog against Malott. Regardless, ‘The Haitian Sensation’ might have an edge coming into the fight.

The 36-year-old welterweight has 39 professional MMA fights under his belt with 28 wins, as compared to the 32-year-old’s 12 fights with 10 wins. Magny also had a different career before he started his professional MMA career, as he served in the military.

Neil Magny: Life in the Military

Neil Magny, before putting on his professional MMA gloves, served a tenure of 7 years in the armed forces. The UFC welterweight served as a light-wheeled mechanic in the National Guard of Illinois, Chicago.

The 36-year-old had even found himself deployed for “Operation Iraqi Freedom” in Afghanistan after he reached the rank of Army National Guard Sergeant in the Illinois National Guard. Magny credits MMA for helping him throughout his deployment, as he found himself training with fellow comrades in his off time.

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One big event that changed Neil Magny’s perspective on life was his losing his friend to self-harm during his time in the military. Nonetheless, Magny credits his success inside the octagon to all the hardships that he faced serving his time in the military.

But, The Haitian Sensation, wasn’t the only UFC fighter who served in the military.

Some UFC fighters who served in the military

UFC legend and two-divisional champion, Randy Couture, served 6 years in the army as an Air Traffic Controller. Former UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy also served in the US Army and had a 3-2 record in the promotion with a win over former UFC middleweight champion, Michael Bisping.

Liz Carmouche was one of the first female fighters in the UFC. She made three deployments to Iraq while serving as an aviation electrician in the US Marines. Moreover, former UFC middleweight Tim Credeur, who fought in the UFC from 2008 to 2011, served in the US military as a sonar technician in the Navy.

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Neil Magny isn’t the only UFC fighter who has served his time in the military. Given the success some of the mentioned fighters had in their careers, it becomes quite apparent that fighters with a background in the army have an added grit to them.

So how do you think would Magny fare against rising prospect Mike Malott in their fight at UFC 297? Let us know in the comments below.

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