What Is The Status Of Neil Magny Vs. Geoff Neal?
A planned welterweight bout has reportedly been scrapped due to unfortunate circumstances. In its place will be another scrap within the division.
According to MMA Fighting and MMA Junkie, Geoff Neal is out of his planned August 29 bout against Neil Magny. This is due to a recent health scare on the part of Neal that required him to be put in the hospital. it was a scary situation for the 29-year-old, who posted on Instagram that he almost died.
“These past few week have been crazy, and that’s putting it lightly. It’s really hard to try to find an eloquent way to say “I almost died.” So screw it.. I almost died…. This really put alot of things into perspective for me. Never did I ever think I would be hooked up to a dialysis machine before my 30s. Everything was going well for me. Was training everyday, making money at work, just signed a contract for a huge fight, then BOOM, life hit me with a check hook. I’m just glad to be home after having to spend 1 week in the ICU. Stay healthy out there y’all and listen to your body at all times.”
As a result, Magny required a new opponent. MMA DNA was the first to report that former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler will take Neal’s place.
Magney (23-7) is on a two-fight win streak and is 4-2 in his last six fights. This would be his third fight of 2020. Back in March, the 32-year-old beat Li Jingliang at UFC 248 and three months later beat Anthony Rocco Martin at UFC 250. He missed fighting in 2019 due to a failed USADA test.
Lawler (28-14, 1 NC) is looking for his first win since 2017. Making his professional debut in 2001, Lawler joined the UFC in 2002, left in 2005, and returned in 2013. The former champion’s last win was against Donald Cerrone at UFC 214. Since then he has lost to Rafael dos Anjos, a controversial affair against Ben Askren, and a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Colby Covington last August.
The August 29 UFC card will be taking place inside the UFC’s APEX Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event is expected to be former light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith v. Aleksandar Rakic.