The co-main event for this Fight Night will feature two familiar names of the UFC’s Welterweight division. Neil “The Haitian Sensation” Magny will face off against Robbie “Ruthless” Lawler.
The two fighters, both just inside the top 15 ranking for Welterweight, are no strangers to the octagon. Both have been competing in the UFC since 2013, and they each have more than 30 fights on their records (for Lawler it’s more than 40).
All respect between former champ Robbie Lawler and Neil Magny ahead of the co-main event. 💪 #UFCVegas8 pic.twitter.com/gVmeBSZqvS
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) August 28, 2020
The recent records of the two fighters tell a simple story: Magny appears to be passing Lawler on his way up, as Lawler attempts to end a 3-loss skid before being expelled from the top 15 rankings completely. For Lawler, a former champ, a win against Magny is his last shot to remain in the competitive realm of the division.
In terms of style, the two fighters are fairly similar. They both tend to avoid the ground, with a paltry four wins by submission between the two. Lawler has won a whopping 20 bouts by knockout. By all indications, this will likely be an all-out strikefest.
Magny has an edge in grappling ability, with about twice as many takedowns over a significantly shorter career. If he plans on vaulting past Lawler in the rankings, he may lean toward using the ground game. At 33 years old, there’s certainly time for Magny to make a run up the division. There’s a lot of talent ahead of him, but this fight is the first step in that direction.
For Lawler, this fight may be more about making a statement. The man has already accomplished so much in the Welterweight division, and ending this losing streak would be critical to keep his career going. He’s made statements about not wanting to retire, but you can only lose so many in a row.
Vegas odds have Magny (-230) as a significant favorite over Lawler (+210). This is no surprise, especially considering the last-minute scheduling for Lawler. It’s hard not to agree with the odds on this one, but at the same time it would be unwise to completely dismiss the former champ. Either way, these two will likely put on a thrilling show.
Even Magny knows that:
.@NeilMagny isn't taking his fight against Robbie Lawler lightly at #UFCVegas8
"I'd be an idiot to think that, for a second that, Robbie Lawler's past his prime."
Watch full video: https://t.co/uiL0ooFLe0 pic.twitter.com/miC9j97rCE
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) August 27, 2020
