UFC welterweight Neil Magny has been in the game for so long that it’s been over 10 years since his last two-fight losing skid. He brings one in this Saturday night against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at UFC Vegas 108.
“It’s bittersweet and also motivating at the same time. Last time I lost two fights in a row was 2013. The last time I wasn’t ranked as a UFC welterweight was 2014. To be here literally so many years later getting an opportunity to go out there and try to make some things happen again,” Magny told reporters on Wednesday.
“I’m definitely grateful for that.”
Magny (29-13) hasn’t dropped two fights in a row since 2013. Losses to Sergio Moraes and Seth Baczynski set him up for a 7-fight win streak following those bouts. Snapping the losing skid and getting back in the rankings is on the list of goals for Magny.
“It’s a part of the process for sure. Definitely a motivating factor absolutely. Looking at these last two fights, where I am now, one of the things that it forced me to do is kind of like take a step back. Re-asses things and just kind of set some goals,” he said.
“There were plenty of goals I had over the years. Some of those goals seem a little bit further from me than I would have liked. I had to re-asses, reset some goals, and start accomplishing.
One step at a time for Magny. First win on Saturday and then get on with the rest.
“First and foremost my first goal is Saturday night go out there and get a win. My next goal is get back in the rankings and just kind of take it from there,” he said.
“There’s definitely a huge motivating factor in realizing like damn this is the first time in almost 11 years I’m not ranked anymore. Let’s get back in there.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Neil Magny above. He takes on Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at UFC Vegas 108 on Saturday night.
