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Robbie Lawler will step in as a late replacement against Neil Magny at UFC Fight Night 175.
UFC veteran Robbie Lawler will return to the Octagon after a twelve-month layoff to face Neil Magny in a short notice welterweight bout at UFC Fight Night 174 on Aug. 29, sources close to MMA Fighting confirmed on Sunday. MMA DNA first announced the matchup yesterday.
Lawler will step in for top-twelve UFC welterweight Geoff Neal, who is currently recovering at home after being hospitalized and put in the intensive care unit (ICU) following a near-death experience.
“It’s really hard to try to find an eloquent way to say “I almost died.” So screw it.. I almost died,” Neal wrote on Instagram. “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.”
Lawler is is on a three-fight losing streak and hasn’t fought since his lopsided decision loss to Colby Covington at UFC on ESPN 5 last August, while Magny — the No. 14-ranked welterweight in the world — is on a two-fight win streak and the more active fighter.
UFC Fight Night 175, which is still without a main event following Yair Rodriguez’ withdrawal from the Zabit Magomedsharipov bout, is scheduled to take place on Aug. 29 at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.