The original main event of UFC Fight Night: Monterrey was supposed to be a fight between Kelvin Gastelum and Matt Brown. However, that was was scrapped when Brown announced he had been injured in training. Not being one to refuse a fight, Neil Magny stepped up and took Brown’s place, landing himself the a headlining slot in Mexico against another rising Welterweight prospect.
Gastelum started out with a hard leg kick, followed by a good left hand that backed Magny up towards the fence. Gastelum began to push Magny towards the fence, controlling the pace and where the fight was taking place. Gastelum unloaded on a combination that incuded a high kick, but Magny was able to counter it with a big takedown, quickly taking Gastelum’s back. Gastelum was able to pop out of it and get back to his feet. Magny hit an amazing throw on Gastelum, putting him on the floor again with back control. After a scramble Magny took to back of Gastelum, threatening with the choke. Magny turned into side control after Gastelum attempted to escape. Gastelum eventually found his way back to his feet as the round closed. The majority of the round was spent on the ground with Gastelum trying to find an answer to Magny’s swift groundwork.
Gastelum started the second round with urgency, looking to get Magny against the cage to land strikes. Gastelum clinched with Magny, with both fighters battling for hand position. After breaking from the clinch, Gastelum continued to stalk Magny down while still not finding a home for his big punches. Magny used his jab to pepper Gastelum’s face with punches. Magny forced the clinch against the fence, taking Gastelum down. Magny repeated what he did in the first round, out-grappling Gastelum. Gastelum made his way up, but could not break Magny’s hold. Magny again threw Gastelum to the ground with a trip, threatening a submission from the back as the round ended.
Gastelum came out in the third round with a similar intensity as in the second, but it was quickly shut down by Magny’s jabs and grappling. Gastelum continued to be unsuccessful with his striking as Magny would either circle away or clinch. While attempting to take Magny down in the clinch, Magny trips Gastelum, sending him falling to the mat and causing him to scramble to get up. Gastelum found himself on top of Magny to end the round after a failed trip by Magny resulted in a scramble for position.
Magny opened up the round with a strong combination, a double jab followed by a straight right hand. Just as Magny was circling away from an exchange, Gastelum caught Magny with a beautiful left hook that dropped Magny. Gastelum swarmed on Magny, looking for the finish on the ground. Magny was able to recover and get Gastelum into his half guard. As soon as Magny got to his feet, Gastelum was able to hit him with another hard punch, rocking Magny and putting him on the mat again. Magny was able to work himself up the cage and out of Gastelum’s grip. Magny avoided Gastelum’s strikes for the remainder of the round, not willing to engage.
Gastelum was able to get the early takedown in the final round, moving right into side control. Magny was able to quickly pull guard again, not allowing Gastelum to get off clean strikes from the top. Magny escaped after a triangle attempt, bringing the fight back to the feet. Gastelum was able to pin Magny against the cage, looking for the knockout. After avoiding Gastelum’s strikes, Magny was able to drag the fight to the ground again with a trip, but Gastelum reversed positioning and ended up on top in Magny’s guard. Gastelum finished the fight with big ground and pound on top.
Neil Magny def. Kelvin Gastelum by split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48)