Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Robbie Lawler and Neil Magny faced off in a Welterweight bout tonight (Sat., Aug. 29, 2020) at UFC Vegas 8 from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a smart performance, Magny won every round.
Magny opened up with a hard outside low kick. Lawler stuck a heavy cross to the mid-section to back Magny into the fence. Lawler surged forward with a combination and unexpectedly shot for a takedown! Magny stuffed it and started looking for a d’arce choke. Lawler resisted the attempt, but Magny was still sprawled out on top of him and landing shots. Lawler stood back up with Magny halfway in the back mount. Magny briefly attempted a standing arm triangle. Lawler countered a takedown attempt and landed in top position. Mangy took a couple uppercuts but worked back to his feet successfully. Hard knee and elbow from Magny, who jammed his foe back into the fence. Double leg takedown from Magny! Magny again threatened the bolt cutter position/potential d’arce choke. Magny again stuck Lawler in that sprawled out position and hammered the mid-section until the bell.
Magny landed a long cross early in the second and evaded the counter combo. Magny blocked a kick, drove his foe into the fence, and scored a takedown with relative ease. Magny took the back! Magny switched to the single leg back control and started looking for the twister. Lawler wasn’t having it, but Magny remained in top position throughout the scrambling. There wasn’t a ton of damage being done, but Magny completely controlled the first four minutes of the second. When Lawler finally regained his footing, Magny slammed him with some hard knees. Lawler got back to the center with 40 seconds remaining, but Magny found a home for his long punches regardless.
Lawler’s back was to the wall with just one round remaining.
The two traded kicks early. Lawler connected with a heavy right hook, which convinced Magny to pull guard. Lawler landed a couple more heavy punches as Magny backed up. “Ruthless” was finally letting his hands go and landing as a result, but Magny switched it up with a takedown attempt. Though it was difficult, Magny managed to drag Lawler down and jam him back in the clinch. Magny’s knees up the middle were gorgeous, landing clean to the chin. Lawler circled free and landed another left. Lawler slipped some punches nicely before eating a step knee. Lawler’s activity dropped back down, allowing Magny to sting his foe with jabs then wrap up the double-collar tie again. Elbows and knees landed in bunches for Magny. Lawler regained space with 40 seconds remaining, but he pushed himself into the clinch, and it cost him valuable time. Magny finished the bout firing jabs and evading high kicks.
From the first bell, Magny was on point last night. Outside of a couple nice offensive moments from Lawler in the third, Magny simply dominated, wearing his opponent out with constant clinch work and wrestling. In addition, his offense looked more dangerous than ever, as those jabs and knees did real damage!
Result: Neil Magny defeats Robbie Lawler via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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