UFC Brisbane recap: Neil Magny finishes Hector Lombard in back-and-fourth war

Check out Bloody Elbow’s recap of the UFC Fight Night 85 co-main event between Hector Lombard and Neil Magny from Brisbane, Australia on Saturday night. In the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 85 live from Brisbane, Neil Magny picked up the …

Check out Bloody Elbow’s recap of the UFC Fight Night 85 co-main event between Hector Lombard and Neil Magny from Brisbane, Australia on Saturday night.

In the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 85 live from Brisbane, Neil Magny picked up the biggest win of his career: a very impressive third-round TKO victory over Hector Lombard, who returned to the cage following a failed drug test from last year.

Lombard came out swinging right from the bell and nearly finished Magny in the first few moments of the fight. Magny showed off his toughness and iron chin, and was able to recover and escape the first round looking somewhat unharmed.

It was Magny who nearly got the finish over an exhausted ‘Showeather’ in the second round, but yet again the referee gave the defensive fighter every chance possible and didn’t wave the fight off.

Magny was by far the fresher fighter going into the final minutes of the fight and got into full mount very quickly, raining down punches eventually (and finally) calling a halt to the contest.

What was the high point of this fight?

The fact that most media members and fans gave Lombard a 10-8 in the first round and Magny a 10-8 in the second round is pretty unbelievable. One minute one fighter was dominating in every facet of MMA, and the next minute the other fighter was dominating in every facet of MMA. How quick the tides turned and seeing Magny recover quickly was the high point of the fight for me.

Where do these two go from here?

Magny goes on-wards and upwards from here. The win over Lombard should put him in position to fight in a No. 1 contenders matchup or a high-profile matchup at the very least. With a stacked welterweight division, I’m not sure he gets a title shot next, but he’s definitely the closest he’s ever been to a crack at UFC gold.

Lombard is not really a UFC contender anymore. With this loss, a failed drug test and recent uninspiring performances, he won’t find himself in a big fight anytime soon. Nevertheless, he’s still a skilled fighter with massive power so should be able to rebound from this devastating loss.

Watch now, later, or never?

I’d watch this fight right now. It deserves Fight of the Night honors and was all around a great fight.