[Star Daily News=Reporter Kim Nana] This year’s hottest UFC sensation, Carlos Praxis (31, Brazil), surpassed veteran gatekeeper Neil Magny (37, USA).
Praxis (21 wins, 6 losses) knocked out welterweight (77.1kg) ranked 15 Magny with a left punches 10 seconds before the end of the first round at the ‘UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Praxis’ main event held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, on the 10th (Korean time).
It’s a streak of 10 consecutive KO victories. After debuting in the UFC in February this year, Praxis recorded four KO victories in nine months. Not only did he knock out Li Jingliang (36, China) who had never been KO’d for 17 years, but also took down gatekeeper Magny who had been in the UFC rankings for 10 years in a single blow.
His grappling was solid. Magny continually attempted wrestling to block Praxis’ firepower but never succeeded. In contrast, Praxis, who holds a black belt in jiu-jitsu, overcame Magny.
In the end, Praxis toppled Magny with a right hook. Magny attempted to lead a grappling fight, but Praxis did not go to the ground. Continuing to pressure Magny, Praxis ended the match with a left punch in the corner of the cage. Magny collapsed forward and couldn’t get up.
Praxis celebrated the victory wearing black rimmed glasses with white tape, symbolic of Team Fighting Nerds. Recording four wins in the UFC in 2024, Praxis expressed his sentiment, “This year was the best in my career. It’s thanks to hard work. I’m indescribably happy.”
He continued, “Just two years ago, I fought for $200 (about 280,000 won), and now I’m making big money,” expressing his amazement.
With this victory, it seems likely that Praxis will break into the UFC welterweight Top 15 rankings. His next goal is to enter the Top 5 and Top 10.
Praxis first called out 4th-ranked Jack Della Maddalena (28, Australia). He said, “It’s ideal to fight there because my daughter is living in Australia,” and added, “I respect Della Maddalena but want to fight him.”
If the match doesn’t happen, the alternative is 10th-ranked Geoff Neal (34, USA). He stated, “If Della Maddalena refuses because of the ranking difference, I’ll gladly fight Neal.”
In the co-main event, former ONE Championship middleweight-light heavyweight champion Reinier de Ridder (34, Netherlands) successfully settled in the UFC.
De Ridder (18 wins, 2 losses) defeated debut opponent Gerald Meerschaert (36, USA) with a submission in 1 minute and 44 seconds of the third round using an arm-triangle in a middleweight (83.9kg) match.
De Ridder engaged in fierce exchange with seasoned veteran Meerschaert. He took the round in the first round by knocking him down with a one-two punch followed by an elbow and punches right before the end. In the second round, Meerschaert gained the upper hand in both striking and grappling.
In the crucial third round, Meerschaert faltered. Having expended energy in the second round, Meerschaert was easily dragged to the ground by de Ridder’s takedown. De Ridder secured a favorable position amidst grappling exchanges and achieved victory with an arm-triangle choke.
De Ridder expressed his thoughts by stating he “Meerschaerted Meerschaert,” having defeated the holder of the UFC middleweight most submission wins (11) record with a submission. He added, “I wanted to present my very best since it was my debut.”
He mentioned 3rd-ranked Khamzat Chimaev (30, UAE) as his next opponent. He said, “Why not?” and “It will be a truly great match on the grappling side.”
The chances of the fight with Chimaev happening aren’t higher. Chimaev raised his stock by shockingly submitting former champion Robert Whittaker (33, Australia) in the first round of UFC 308 last month. Unless it’s a title match, it’s likely to determine a title contender at least.
Thus, de Ridder conveyed his intent to fight anyone by saying, “I’ll do whatever the UFC wants,” and “Just give me a call. I’m ready.”
UFC Fight Night: Magny vs Praxis
November 12, 2024
▶ Official Results
Performance of the Night: Carlos Praxis, Mansur Abdul-Malik, Charles Lattke, Da’Mon Blackshear
▷ Main Event
Carlos Praxis got a KO victory over Neil Magny at 4 minutes 50 seconds of round 1 (left punch)
▷ Co-Main Event
Reinier de Ridder got a submission victory over Gerald Meerschaert at 1 minute 44 seconds of round 3 (arm-triangle choke)
▷ Main Card
Gaston Bolanos got a unanimous decision victory over Cutberius Romierus (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Mansur Abdul-Malik got a TKO victory over Dusko Todorovic at 2 minutes 44 seconds of round 1 (strikes)
Deniz Gomes got a unanimous decision victory over Karolina Kowalkiewicz (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
▷ Undercard
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos got a TKO victory over Zach Skogin at 1 minute 15 seconds of round 1 (strikes)
Charles Lattke got a unanimous decision victory over Aiemann Zahabi over Pedro Munhoz (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Da’Mon Blackshear got a submission victory over Cody Stamann at 4 minutes 19 seconds of round 1 (rear naked choke)
Tristen Connelly got a submission victory over Antonio Trocoli at 1 minute 23 seconds of round 1 (guillotine choke)
Melissa Mullins got a TKO victory over Claudia Saguya at 1 minute 20 seconds of round 2 (strikes)