Neil Magny (26-8) said that he wanted to fight one of the best UFC prospects and he’s finally getting a shot. After chasing down a fight with Khamzat Chimaev for the last year, Magny is getting a shot against the other top welterweight prospect in Shavkat Rakhmonov (15-0).
The fight has been rumored, but the UFC just finalized the date. MMA Junkie was the first to report earlier this afternoon that the promotion had closed the deal on the fight. It will take place at an event on June 25th.
As mentioned, Neil Magny has been chasing down fights against the hyped UFC welterweight contenders. He had been chasing down a fight with Khamzat Chimaev. What’s worth noting is that this is nothing new for Neil Magny.
Back in 2018, he stepped up to face Santiago Ponzinibbio when nobody wanted to fight him. He took on Michael Chiesa when he was surging up the welterweight rankings. Magny asked for a fight with Geoff Neal when Neal was unbeaten in the UFC.
Magny’s seeks these opportunties out and he’s got a big one in front of him on June 25th. While Rakhmonov might not have the same buzz that Chimaev has at the moment, he has all the makings of a household name.
UFC’s Next Big Thing
A native of Kazakhstan, Shavkat Rakhmonov made his way to the UFC at the end of 2020. Like Khamzat Chimaev, Rakhmonov also made his debut on Fight Island just on the promotion’s second trip out to Abu Dhabi.
He took on veteran Alex Oliveira and submitted him in the first round. He’s had two fights since then and he’s finished both of his opponents. So he’s 3-0 in the UFC with three finishes.
Rakhmonov has finished all fifteen opponents he’s fought in his professional career. Many people believe that he will be a UFC champion one day and it’s easy to see why. That being said, this is a big test for him and Magny won’t back down. I can’t wait to see how this one unfolds in a couple of months.