Ponzinibbio Makes Homecoming A Memorable One
Dreams do come true, and while it took awhile, Santiago Ponzinibbio had a chance to live it on a special night in front of his homeland in Argentina.
After distributing violence in one of his most impressive performances in the UFC to date, Ponzinibbio is dreaming bigger.
Santiago Ponzinibbio (28-3, 9-2 UFC) defeated Neil Magny (21-7, 15-5 UFC) by 4th-Round KO on Saturday night at the Parque Roca Arena in Buenos Aires.
Ponzinibbio emphasized all week how much this opportunity to fight in Argentina in the UFC’s first trip to the country.
Standing in his way was a fighter in Neil Magny rolling with wins over former champions and title challengers, but none of that would matter once the bell rung.
Ponzinibbio was incredible in his homecoming to Argentina as he dominated this one from start to finish.
Creating different angles as he pushed forward against the longer and rangy Neil Magny, Santiago Ponzinibbio made his opponent uncomfortable from the very beginning as he used a stalking style with a long jab to touch Magny.
Magny would begin having trouble seeing out of his right eye from a jab that would land early in the first round, backpedaling and retreating as Ponzinibbio continued to press forward.
The pro-crowd Ponzinibbio would applaud the Argentine at every turn, coming to their feet for their loudest applause after their guy hurt Neil Magny with a hard right cross that snapped Magny’s head back.
The Colorado-bred Magny made an effort to be first with his shots in the beginning of the second round, coming out aggressive with 1-2s. Hard leg kicks by Ponzinibbio would alter that pace, however, as two would drop Magny to the mat on two separate ocassions.
Ponzinibbio suffered a bad cut on his left eyelid after the two fighters clashed heads, but he would fight on, continuing to cause the six-foot-four Magny trouble with his jab and leg kicks that continued to break down his opponent.
The beating to Magny’s lead leg would continue on over the next two rounds and Magny, tough and durable, would continue to fall to the mat off of Ponzinibbio’s hard leg kicks as he winced in pain and hopped off his right leg.
In sensational fashion, Santiago Ponzinibbio would use a vicious right-hand to put away Neil Magny in the fourth round.
Looking at Neil Magny’s inability to take leg kicks in recent bouts, Ponzinibbio and his team carved out a gameplan to follow those who showed the blueprint to breaking down the No. 8 welterweight contender in the world.
It’s Ponzinibbio’s 21st career finish and his 15th by knockout.
He is currently on a seven-fight win streak, the second longest active streak in the welterweight division.
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