A promising welterweight scrap was expected to top UFC Columbus’ preliminary card. That saw Max Griffin paired up with Neil Magny in a fight that looked to land Griffin inside the divisional rankings, were he to get his hand raised over the #9-ranked Magny.
While it was originally the UFC Columbus featured prelim, the loss of Aleksei Oleinik vs. Ilir Latifi saw the welterweight clash promoted to the main event at the last minute on Saturday.
Both fighters took the center of the octagon— no touch of gloves in this one. A low kick from Griffin and a body kick from Magny started the fight. Two calf kicks from Griffin were followed by a punch that backed Magny up. A front kick from Magny came next, and he ate a punch. Magny threw a spinning attack that missed. 2:45 left, and Griffin dropped Magy with a left hand! Griffin let Magny back up, but couldn’t find the finish. Two minutes left in the round, and Griffin landed another calf kick. One minute left in the round, and Magny ate another left hand. Magny started getting going with just over 30 seconds left. A high kick from Magny was blocked.
Round two started with a power jab from Griffin. Magny tried to clinch with Griffin, but he escaped. Griffin landed a nasty body kick, but Magny ate it. A low kick from Griffin, and a 1-2 from Magny, followed.
Griffin poked Magny in the eye, and the action was halted about ninety seconds in.
The fight started back up once Magny had recovered, and Griffin landed another right hand. Griffin landed a three-punch combo that hurt Magny. Just over two minutes left in the round, and Magny landed a combo himself that hurt Griffin. Less than two minutes left, and Magny shot for a takedown which put Griffin against the fence— Griffin escaped. Magny landed a punch and followed with a clinch attempt, but Griffin escaped again. The round ended with Magny on Griffin’s back.
Round three started with both fighters landing a flurry of combos. Magny grabbed Griffin and put him against the fence. Just over ninety seconds in, Magny finally got Griffin down and took his back. Magny was landing some ground and pound from Griffin’s back against the fence. Magny stood up, landing some shots, and with that, Griffin got to his feet. Magny put Griffin back against the fence. Thirty seconds left, Magny landed an elbow, and Griffin escaped. The fight ended with Magny essentially landing a piledriver!
The scorecards had it for Magny — two of them, anyway. A split decision win in a close fight. With Magny’s victory, he is now tied with Georges St-Pierre for welterweight’s all-time wins record. Incredible.
Official Result: Neil Magny def. Max Griffin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
