Neil Magny is a ‘very dangerous’ opponent for Ian Garry at UFC 292 in Boston, says Michael Bisping

Neil Magny is a “very dangerous” opponent for Ian Garry at UFC 292, according to TNT Sports expert Michael Bisping.

UFC 292 will be hosted at the TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, August 19, with the main card set to be shown on TNT Sports from 03:00 UK time on Sunday morning.

Irish welterweight prospec Garry was due to fight Geoff Neal but Magny has stepped in at late notice after Neal was forced to withdraw because of an injury.

With a 12-0 record, Garry will put his undefeated record on the line when he goes toe to toe with veteran Magny, whose record stands at 28-10.

Magny, 36, is set for his 31st appearance in the Octagon, and in previewing the event, Bisping said he believes the American will provide a stern test for Garry.

“Ultimately for Ian Garry, I don’t think anything changes,” said Bisping on TNT Sports Fight Week.

“He fights the way fights, he’s not going to go out there and try and wrestle anyone. He’s a striker first and he’s a very good, effective one.

“Neil Magny mixes things up. He’s not really a specialist but he’s very good at what he does and he’s very experienced.

“Now, granted, with the experience comes a little wear and tear, you know, miles on the clock – and how long has he got left?

“I don’t think Neil Magny, being honest, has designs on becoming a champion. But he wants to be a proud fighter, he wants to be a proud man, he wants to go out there and win.”

Garry had called out Magny following his win over Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Charlotte, and now he’ll get his wish.

Bisping continued: “First and foremost, when we step into the Octagon or a boxing ring or whatever it is, our career is on the line so to speak, the trajectory of the career. But first and foremost, we want to win as a competitor.

“There’s a reason you go out there and you train for months on end, you push yourself to the limit, you make so many sacrifices, time away from your wife or your children, other opportunities that you could be doing.

“Neil Magny is a smart man, he’s not here to be a gatekeeper, he’s not here to just be a victim of Ian Garry’s knockout power; he’s here to win this fight, go home, earn some money and be proud of himself. That makes him very dangerous.”

In the co-main event of UFC 292, champion Zhang Weili will defend her strawweight title against Amanda Lemos.

Bisping insists the two can’t be separated and it’ll come down to who is hungrier on the night.

Following the defeat to Jessica Andrade in April 2022, Lemos responded with consecutive finishes over Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Marina Rodriguez to earn a shot at Weili.

“She [Lemos] has eight knockouts, three submissions, and she can get the job done everywhere,” Bisping began.

“And she’s been in there with former champions before. Granted against Jessica Andrade she got caught in an arm triangle choke, but she’s fought this calibre of opponent before.”

Meanwhile, UFC expert Nick Peet believes that ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley will have to be “perfect” in his performance to overcome reigning champion Aljamain Sterling in what will be a fascinating bantamweight title fight between the pair.

Sterling’s reputation in the sport is quickly growing after three successful title defences and he can boast a phenomenal 23-3-0 record, while O’Malley has a 16-1-0 record.

Peet said: “The thing you’ve got to remember [about O’Malley] is when it comes to the striking departments, when it comes to the footwork, when it comes to the switch it and the cartwheel kicks and setting things up…that’s what he does, he set up traps really well.

“The Thomas Almeida performance was a standout. Against Petr Yan, he looked absolutely phenomenal on the feet there as well and Yan’s got some of the best boxing in the UFC, period.

“But Sugar Sean is just so good, he’s so light on his feet but it’s the way he switches from one way to another, he sets stuff up really well. He’s used to being the big guy in there, he’s used to having the height and reach advantage, he’s used to faking a low kick and throwing a kick to the belly.

Peet has also been building up the bantamweight fight between Pedro Munhoz and Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera, both of whom he feels are “at the peak of their powers”.

Brazilian veteran Munhoz, 36, is hoping to claim the win which would put him into the picture of a title fight, but Vera will have a point to prove after losing to Cory Sandhagen on points in San Antonio in March.

“I think either man, whoever wins this fight, should be rocking the microphone calling out their opportunity at the top of the tree,” said Peet.

“But also if Sean O’Malley comes through, both these guys have got a real narrative – of course, Chito was the guy that beat Sean O’Malley and yet Chito’s kind of like: ‘wait a minute, just because I lost to Cory Sandhagen…and who has he beat to circumnavigate the like of Cory Sandhagen to get a title shot?’ And he’s got a point.

“And then you’ve got Munhoz who will go: ‘wait a minute, I was doing great against Sean O’Malley until he poked me in the eye and now he’s got a title shot and I’m back to here?’

“So yeah, there’s real narratives there for both these guys. I think it’s a fantastic fight.

“Pedro has always been talented but just couldn’t get over that final hurdle. I think we’re just seeing the last real big surge from Pedro Munhoz.

“But when you’re around Chito Vera, it’s like you’re already around the champion. He carries himself like a champion, he talks like a champion, he’s ready to be a champion, and that’s what makes this fight so entertaining for me. Both these guys are really at the peak of their powers.”