This Weekend’s Main Event: Magny vs Gastelum

By Joe “JD” David

This Saturday’s UFC main event headliner, airing on FOX Sports 1 from Monterrey, Mexico will dictate who will be next to face Top 10 opposition.  #15 ranked Kevin Gastelum is ready and willing to prove that he belongs in the elite and stacked welterweight division.  A decisive victory will set up a potential scrap with a Top 10 opponent.

Neil Magny, training with Elevation Fight Team out of Colorado, and fellow prospect will be locking horns this weekend with Gastelum.  The 13th ranked Magny is replacing the injured No. 5 ranked Matt “The Immortal” Brown.  “I tore a ligament in my ankle and had to pull out of the fight,” Brown said.

Brown was pegged to face The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 17 winner until the the news of the injury broke out. Brown is not accustomed to pulling out of fights; however, this marks the second time in Brown’s career where he needed to pull out of a fight.

Magny, a Brazilian Jui-Jitsu brown belt stepped up and took the fight in short notice, allowing Gastelum the fight.  Magny is no stranger to short camps and stepping up on short notice.  In August, he defeated long time prospect Erik Silva just 30 days after a loss via a rear naked choke to #10 ranked Maia.

Magny’s willingness to keep a busy schedule and step up on short notice is turning heads in a way that Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone has done in the past.  You figure if it worked for Cerrone, who’s challenging for Lightweight gold against Rafael Dos Anjos this December 19th, then the same could be expected if Magny continues his relentless efforts to break into the elite top ten.

The surging welterwight and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu purple belt from Yuma, AZ no doubt has his hands full this Saturday.  But, the pressing factor going into the fight will no doubt be Gastelum’s weight cut.  All in all, a great scrap for all the viewers tuning in on FS1.  Who do you got?