After South African Boxer’s Tragic Death, UFC Welterweight Sends a Chilling Warning: “Combat Sports Are Only Sports You Don’t ‘Play’”

Combat sports are the closest thing to actual fights in the real world. Therefore, there are athletic commissions in place to oversee these events. The regulating bodies ensure that fighters come out of a contest safe. Different rule sets and guidelines are in place to prevent any unfortunate incident during an official contest, whether it be boxing, MMA/UFC, or any other form of hand-to-hand combat.

UFC athlete Neil Magny recently took to his Instagram story to share the news about the tragic incident that happened with a South African boxer during a bout in his home country.

Expressing his emotions about the news, Magny wrote, “I try to make my training partners quit on a daily basis, combat sports are only sports you don’t ‘play'”

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The veteran welterweight has been a staple in the UFC since his appearance in TUF-16 in 2012. He has racked up some amazing wins in the division and even attached his name with legendary welterweight Georges St-Pierre.

What incident is UFC welterweight Neil Magny referring to?

A boxing event in Durban, South Africa saw an uncomfortable scene during the WBF African lightweight title bout. In the 10th round, South African boxer Simiso Buthelezi landed a decent strike on Siphesihle Mntungwa, his opponent, that knocked him down.

While his opponent was trying to beat the 10-count from the ref, there was a disturbing scenario that unfolded with him. Buthelezi walked down to the one-ring corner and started punching thin air. His opponent, initially, tried to charge at him, but immediately stopped. The ref acted quickly to stop the bout.

After the news of the injuries, the boxer’s family revealed that Buthelezi passed away on Tuesday.

Neil Magny is fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov

‘Haitian Sensation’ has been on a decent run in the welterweight division. The Elevation Fight Team product has won 5 of his last six contests, beating names like Robbie Lawler, and Geoff Neal in the process.

His only setback was against Michael Chiesa in a five-rounder bout on January 20, 2021.

Coming off two back-to-back wins, Magny will face one of the hottest prospects in the welterweight division, Shavkat Rakhmonov, on June 25.

The Uzbekistan-born fighter has been a dominant force against the competition the UFC has put in front of him. The undefeated fighter, 15-0, has finished all of his MMA fights. In addition, his finishes have come via a mix of knockouts and submissions.

Should Magny get past the streaking welterweight, he may finally get Khamzat Chimaev, a matchup that he’s asked for years.

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What are your thoughts on Neil Magny’s warning? Let us know in the comments section.