Will the ‘Haitian Sensation’ Turn Back Another Prospect?
Since joining the UFC in 2013, there hasn't been a better gatekeeper in the history of the UFC than Neil Magny. He has repeatedly turned back almost every young and up-and-coming prospect the UFC has fed him. He is currently on a two-fight winning streak, with both wins by finish. He is taking on the debuting Yaroslav Amosov. Will the 38-year-old continue showing he still belongs with the best the Welterweight Division has to offer, or will Amosov show that he is truly for real?
There are few people more resilient than Neil Magny. He doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but he will be there, and if you don't put him away, he will drag you into deep waters and finish you. He showed that in his last fight against the surging Jake Matthews. That fight was supposed to propel Matthews up the rankings, but after overcoming adversity, Magny turned the tables and submitted Matthews with overwhelming pressure and aggression. He will need to do that in this fight, and I think he could really do that against anyone. Especially with a guy fighting in his debut, he hasn't fought anyone with the experience of Neil Magny. I think Magny will get in trouble early on but survive and then take advantage as the fight goes on to work the clinch, tire Amosov out, and potentially get his third straight finish to close 2025.
The 32-year-old Ukrainian is coming into the UFC with a 28-1 record and a huge opportunity to turn back someone who's been a pioneer of the Welterweight Division for a long time. Yaroslav Amosov bounces on his feet and uses his striking to set up takedowns, establishing great top control and advancing, looking for his submissions early and often. He has a deadly anaconda choke that he can pull off out of nowhere. If he gets this fight to the ground, he's going to have to finish the battle, or it will hurt him later on. He could do a lot of damage and have minutes worth of top control, but if Magny is standing across from you for the next round, you are going to be at a disadvantage. If he feels like he can't finish the fight, he can't overexert himself and push it, because if he shows any sign of fatigue, Magny will attack like a shark smelling blood. If he fights smart and with controlled aggression, he can put Magny away and win a huge debut fight.
Anytime Neil Magny is fighting, you have to tune in because you could very well witness a massive upset where he shocks the world. I guess there won't be a point at which we stop overlooking Magny, which I think is better for him to keep that chip on his shoulder as he gets older. Whichever way this fight goes, you won’t want to miss it or all their great action. This Saturday, December 13th, for the final UFC event of 2025, with a main card start time of 10:00 p.m. EST.
