Neil Magny and Michael Morales meet on the main card of UFC on ESPN 62 at UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. Check out this quick analysis of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
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Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales UFC on ESPN 62 Preview
Magny (29-11 MMA, 22-10 UFC) has undoubtedly seen many different styles in the UFC. Lately, he’s been tasked with testing young upstarts with great potential, which is again the case here. In his last fight, Magny stopped Mike Malott in the final round at UFC 297 to return to the win list. Magny has alternated wins and losses in his last six fights. … Morales (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has never lost in his professional career. He enters his toughest test yet following his unanimous decision victory over Jake Matthews in November. This is the type of clash that will set the tone for Morales’ immediate development at welterweight.
Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales UFC on ESPN 62, expert tip, forecast
In the welterweight division, a fight between Magny and Morales should be a big attraction.
Morales is a young, undefeated prospect, but he still has to pass the “Magny Test.”
Magny has been playing spoilsport for nearly a decade now, and while he doesn’t have the craziest highlights in the world, he has figured out how to effectively win fights in the Octagon as the UFC’s welterweight champion. However, Magny has arguably looked less powerful in recent years, and the strategy for beating him remains the same: attack his legs and body.
Morales has gotten a little better at throwing leg kicks since moving to Entram Gym, but he still doesn’t attack the lower levels with enough force for Money to have enough confidence in him to do it to Magny.
Add to that the fact that Morales doesn’t seem to be the kind of man who comes in with a battle plan, and I suspect he’s making this fight a lot harder than it needs to be.
From a betting perspective, it’s dog or pass, but I’d reluctantly pick Morales, who will have the more emphatic moments to win a tricky decision.
Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales UFC on ESPN 62 odds
The bookmakers and the public clearly favor the Ecuadorian and list Morales -850 and Magny +540 at FanDuel.
Neil Magny vs. Michael Morales UFC on ESPN 62 – Start Time, How to Watch
As the second fight on the main card, Magny and Morales are expected to enter the cage at approximately 10:35 p.m. ET. The fight will air on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.
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