Neil Magny imitates Vin Diesel in “Fast and Furious” before the UFC fight

Neil Magny imitates Vin Diesel in “Fast and Furious” before the UFC fight

LAS VEGAS – UFC welterweight legend Neil Magny has to face another rising star, but believes his experience will be somewhat similar to Vin Diesel behind the wheel of a fast car on the big screen.

Magny (29-11 MMA, 22-10 UFC), who holds the UFC welterweight record for most wins with 22 victories, faces undefeated Michael Morales on the main card of UFC on ESPN 62 at the UFC Apex. It will be Magny’s third consecutive opponent with one or no losses.

Whether it’s Ian Machado Garry, Mike Malott or Morales (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), the 30-plus fight UFC veteran approaches each training camp with the same intensity. With so much footage of him out there, he feels pressure to bring new things to the table.

“I need the most difficult training camp possible to prepare myself emotionally, physically and mentally for what’s going to happen on fight night,” Magny said at media day on Wednesday. “I feel like this training camp has done just that. There were literally days where I walked out of the gym crying, with my head down, not wanting to talk to anyone because training was so difficult. For me, that’s a recipe for success.”

Magny is keen not to become complacent in training. He knows he will be the target of up-and-comers trying to make a name for themselves, but ultimately he believes his experience is a key advantage, comparing it to the steely composure of Vin Diesel in the long-running Fast and Furious action film series.

“In my last fight, I used the analogy of Vin Diesel in a ‘Fast and Furious’ movie where he’s always racing the other guy and the other guy has a little bit of an advantage and he hits the NOS button,” Magny explained. “Then it’s like, ‘Oh no! Vin Diesel is finally going to lose a race!’ Then Vin Diesel always sits back and says, ‘Ha. Too soon. I got you.’ And then he just sprints to the finish line.

“I feel like this fight is going to be that. I’m going to go out there and really showcase all of my skills. From grappling to striking to wrestling. I’m just going to go out there and be a really evolved version of myself on Saturday night.”

For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.

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