Neil Magny once again showcased his remarkable resilience at UFC Perth. Known for his role as a formidable welterweight gatekeeper, Magny further cemented his legacy by achieving the second-highest number of wins in UFC history, following another impressive comeback. In his 36th appearance in the Octagon, Magny faced fellow veteran Jake Matthews on Sunday morning. He secured the sole Australian loss of the event in Perth by submitting Matthews in the final round.
This victory, however, was not without its share of controversy. The bout saw a premature stoppage by the referee just moments before the end of the first round, as Magny was caught in a very tight guillotine choke. The referee`s intervention came from the belief that Magny`s arm had gone limp. Yet, once the choke was released, Magny asserted he was still conscious, leading the referee to permit the fight to resume.
While Matthews and his team contemplate their next steps, Magny has shed light on his mindset during the intense closing moments of the first round.
Neil Magny Recalls `Fighting for Air` During Controversial Round 1 Stoppage
Magny was mere seconds from losing consciousness at UFC Perth, but narrowly avoided it. He recounted that, while caught in the choke, he was counting down the remaining seconds of the round before the referee stepped in.
“At the end of the round, I was like, the round was already up,” Magny said on the post-fight show. “He has a pretty tight choke. The best I could do is just keep holding on for air, keep holding on for blood, to keep that circulation going.”
Magny further detailed, “So, I kinda held my arm out for a bit and then once I heard the clack for ten seconds left, I immediately started counting down in my own head. Just like, alright, cool. Ten, nine, eight, all the way down to one. As soon as I was expecting the bell to go, [the referee stepped in]. I mean, the choke was deep, but at that point, it was just a matter of just fighting for air in that moment and not letting my lights go out, so to speak.”
Jake Matthews to Appeal Controversial Loss to Neil Magny at UFC Perth
For a brief period immediately after the first round, Matthews believed he had secured the victory. According to legendary referee John McCarthy, the initial stoppage in the first round might have caused an “adrenaline dump” for Matthews, potentially affecting his subsequent performance.
Regardless, Matthews intends to appeal the outcome, given that the fight was halted controversially just before the conclusion of the opening round. On Instagram, Matthews announced:
“The fight stoppage is currently under review by the state combat commission. It’s not easy to switch back on after a referee’s call, but we’ll leave it in their hands and see where it goes. At the end of the day, rules are rules.”
Matthews` management has confirmed their intention to formally appeal the fight`s result.
