Toronto – UFC welterweight Neil Magny found himself dealing with real life consequences from an prior opponent’s trash talk, but he’s past it now and focused on fighting Mike Malott at UFC 297 on Saturday night.
His prior opponent, Ian Garry, had taken to social media and used his platform to go after Magny on comments the welterweight veteran made during his media day scrum.
“That definitely was something I never experienced throughout the course of my career, and I thought I experienced everything you could possibly imagine at this point when it comes to certain obstacles you will have in your way,” Magny told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“This past one was really, really difficult. Not because of what it did in the fight itself, but like what those comments meant for me outside of the cage so to speak. It wasn’t just a matter of like alright you won the fight, you lose the fight, it was actually no like my ability to actually be the father I want to be. Be the parent I want to be is actually at stake now based off of what someone perceived I was saying and how they chose to spin it in the media,” Magny said.
“It was just a very difficult place that I found myself and I’m very fortunate that we were able to move past that and put it behind us. That was definitely one of the lowest things I’ve ever seen an opponent do ever.”
In front of him at ScotiaBank Arena will be Malott who comes in with an undefeated record and on a 4-fight UFC win streak.
“It’s definitely not the plan to find myself in this position over, over, and over again. The goal is to keep moving forward, keep advancing, keep doing your thing or whatever. Just so happens it’s the way the sport plays out,” Magny told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“If you’re ranked, lose a ranked fight, you fall back in rankings and you kind of have to get a win to get yourself back into position to call somebody out ranked above me. Yeah here we are again fighting another undefeated up-and-comer in the UFC.”
Magny sees a lot of positive things in Malott.
“He’s a very well-rounded fighter. Even though he’s only had four fights in the UFC he’s currently undefeated and he’s been able to do it all throughout his career. He’s a guy that has knockout power, he has the ability to also grapple and finish the fights with grappling as well,” he said.
Watch the entire media day scrum with Neil Magny above. He takes on Mike Malott at UFC 297 on Saturday night.
