Neil Magny

Background

Magny graduated from Thornwood High School and then went to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice.

Mixed martial arts career

Magny began competing in MMA professionally in 2010, making his debut August 7, 2010 against Nolan Norwood for the C3 Fights promotion. Magny won the fight via submission (kimura) midway into the second round. Just a few months later Magny again fought for the C3Fights promotion, fighting against Nate Pratt, winning the fight via unanimous decision. Three weeks after his second win, Magny traveled to Indiana to fight for Cut Throat MMA on their November 6 card. Magny defeated Lawrence Dunning via TKO.

Magny won two more fights, bringing his overall record to 6-0, before being invited to compete in Combat USA's Wisconsin vs. Illinois championship series. Magny won his first round fight against fellow Illinois native, Quartus Stitt, via submission (triangle choke). The win moved Magny into the final round of the welterweight division tournament against a Wisconsin fighter. The final round took place on July 21, 2011 where Magny fought against Andrew Trace. Magny lost the fight via submission, marking the first time Magny had lost in his career.

Magny fought one more time before trying out for the popular reality TV series, The Ultimate Fighter.

The Ultimate Fighter

Magny was subsequently selected as a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson. He won the elimination fight in order to get into the Ultimate Fighter house by defeating Frank Camacho via decision. Magny was selected fourth (seventh overall) by Shane Carwin to be a part of his team.

In the first fight of the season Magny was selected to fight against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, Cameron Diffley. Magny dominated the fight throughout two rounds, and won via unanimous decision.

Magny was then matched up against Team Carwin teammate and IFL and Strikeforce veteran, Bristol Marunde for the quarterfinal round. After two rounds Magny was awarded the unanimous decision victory.

Magny came up short in the semifinals after getting knocked out by Mike Ricci in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Magny made his UFC debut against fellow semifinalist Jon Manley on February 23, 2013 at UFC 157. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Magny faced Sérgio Moraes on August 3, 2013 at UFC 163. He lost the fight via triangle choke in the first round.

Magny faced Seth Baczynski on November 6, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 31. He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

Magny faced UFC newcomer Gasan Umalatov on February 1, 2014 at UFC 169. He effectively utilized his reach advantage in the striking department to win a unanimous decision.

Magny was expected to face William Macário at UFC Fight Night 40. However, Macário was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons and replaced by returning veteran Tim Means. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Magny was expected to face Cláudio Silva on June 28, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 43. However, da Silva was forced from the bout due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Rodrigo Goiana de Lima. After spending much of the first round defending against de Lima's strikes and submission attempts on the ground, Magny won the fight via KO in the second round after staggering de Lima with punches throughout the round.

Magny defeated Alex Garcia via unanimous decision on August 23, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 49.

Magny next fought William Macário at UFC 179. He defeated Macário by TKO in the third round, his fifth UFC win of 2014.

Magny was briefly linked to a bout with Josh Koscheck at UFC 184 on February 28, 2015. However, the pairing was scrapped and Koscheck faced Jake Ellenberger at the event.

Magny faced Kiichi Kunimoto on February 14, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 60. Magny defeated Kunimoto via submission in the third round, earning him his first Performance of the Night honors.

Magny faced Hyun Gyu Lim on May 16, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 66. Magny won the fight via TKO in the second round, which also produced a Performance of the Night bonus.

Magny faced Demian Maia on August 1, 2015 at UFC 190. He lost the fight by submission in the second round.

Just 22 days after his loss to Maia, Magny stepped in as a short notice replacement for Rick Story to face Erick Silva on August 23, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 74. He won the fight via split decision.

Magny was expected to face Stephen Thompson on January 2, 2016 at UFC 195. However, Magny replaced Matt Brown to face Kelvin Gastelum on November 21, 2015 at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. Magny won the fight by split decision Their performance earned both pariticipants Fight of the Night honors.

Magny faced Hector Lombard on March 20, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 85. After nearly being finished with strikes in the first round, Magny defeated Lombard via TKO in the third round. He also was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus. After this fight with Hector Lombard, Magny signed a 4 fight extension to his UFC contract.

Magny was expected to face Dong Hyun Kim on August 20, 2016 at UFC 202. However, Kim was removed from the fight on July 12 and was replaced by Lorenz Larkin. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Magny faced Johny Hendricks on December 30, 2016 at UFC 207. At the weigh-ins, Hendricks missed weight for their bout, weighing in at 173.5 lbs. As a result, Magny received 20% of Hendricks' purse and the bout was made a catchweight fight. Magny won the fight via unanimous decision.

Magny faced Rafael dos Anjos on September 9, 2017 at UFC 215. He lost the fight via arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments