Magny Reversed the Pressure
Neil Magny stopped Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at 4:39 of the second round at UFC Vegas 108 on August 2, 2025. The welterweight contest at UFC APEX in Las Vegas turned sharply after the Brazilian controlled much of the early action.
| Fighter | Neil Magny | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 29-14 | 25-9-1 |
| Height | 6′3″ | 5′11″ |
| Reach | 80″ | 73″ |
| Strikes Landed/Min | 3.43 | 4.26 |
| Takedown Avg/15 Min | 2.12 | 0.75 |
| UFC Debut | 2013 | 2015 |
Zaleski dos Santos made the stronger start
The Brazilian advanced with leg kicks and repeatedly sought takedowns against the fence. Magny spent much of the opening round defending and trying to prevent those entries from becoming sustained ground control.
Although the initial takedown attempts failed, the pressure kept Magny from establishing a comfortable rhythm. Zaleski dos Santos finally brought him down early in the second round.
A return to the feet opened Magny’s opportunity
Magny struggled to reverse from underneath before eventually standing with roughly two minutes left. He then briefly secured a takedown of his own as the positions began changing more rapidly.
A strong knee helped create the next opening. Magny followed with another takedown and quickly moved into back control, turning an extended defensive stretch into his best attacking position of the fight.
Ground punches completed the comeback
Magny unloaded from the dominant position late in the round. Referee Mark Smith stopped the contest as Zaleski dos Santos struggled to escape the unanswered punches.
The TKO ended Magny’s two-fight losing streak following defeats to Michael Morales and Carlos Prates. It also gave him the thirtieth victory of his professional career, providing a successful return one day before his thirty-eighth birthday.
Sources
- Cageside Press: early pressure, reversal, finishing sequence and career context
- UFC: August 2 event details and official TKO
- MMA Fighting: confirmed second-round result
