Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Magny is of Haitian and Dominican descent.[8][9] Magny moved to Illinois at the age of 12, where he graduated from Thornwood High School in the Chicago Southland[9] and then went to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice.[10] He wrestled and played football in both high school and college.[9] He is also an army veteran, having been deployed in Kuwait.[3] He left the service in 2013.[3]
Mixed martial arts career
Magny began competing in MMA professionally in 2010, making his debut August 7, 2010, against Nolan Norwood for the C3 Fights promotion. Magny won the fight via submission (kimura) midway into the second round. Just a few months later Magny again fought for the C3 Fights promotion, fighting against Nate Pratt, winning the fight via unanimous decision. Three weeks after his second win, Magny traveled to Indiana to fight for Cut Throat MMA on their November 6 card. Magny defeated Lawrence Dunning via TKO.[11]
Magny won two more fights, bringing his overall record to 6–0, before being invited to compete in Combat USA's Wisconsin vs. Illinois championship series.[12] Magny won his first round fight against fellow Illinois native, Quartus Stitt, via submission (triangle choke).[11] The win moved Magny into the final round of the welterweight division tournament against a Wisconsin fighter.[12] The final round took place on July 21, 2011, where Magny fought against Andrew Trace. Magny lost the fight via submission, marking the first time Magny had lost in his career.[11]
Magny fought one more time before trying out for the popular reality TV series, The Ultimate Fighter.
The Ultimate Fighter
Magny was subsequently selected as a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson. He won the elimination fight in order to get into the Ultimate Fighter house by defeating Frank Camacho via decision. Magny was selected fourth (seventh overall) by Shane Carwin to be a part of his team.
In the first fight of the season, Magny was selected to fight against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, Cameron Diffley. Magny dominated the fight throughout two rounds and won via unanimous decision.
Magny was then matched up against Team Carwin teammate and IFL and Strikeforce veteran, Bristol Marunde for the quarterfinal round. After two rounds Magny was awarded the unanimous decision victory.[13]
Magny came up short in the semifinals after getting knocked out by Mike Ricci in the first round.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Magny made his UFC debut against fellow semifinalist Jon Manley on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Magny faced Sérgio Moraes on August 3, 2013, at UFC 163.[14] He lost the fight via triangle choke in the first round.
Magny faced UFC newcomer Gasan Umalatov on February 1, 2014, at UFC 169.[16] He effectively utilized his reach advantage in the striking department to win a unanimous decision.
Magny was expected to face William Macário at UFC Fight Night 40.[17] However, Macário was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons and replaced by returning veteran Tim Means.[18] He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Magny was expected to face Cláudio Silva on June 28, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 43.[19] However, da Silva was forced from the bout due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Rodrigo Goiana de Lima.[20] After spending much of the first round defending against de Lima's strikes and submission attempts on the ground, Magny won the fight via KO in the second round after staggering de Lima with punches throughout the round.
Magny was briefly linked to a bout with Josh Koscheck at UFC 184 on February 28, 2015.[25] However, the pairing was scrapped and Koscheck faced Jake Ellenberger at the event.[26]
Magny faced Kiichi Kunimoto on February 14, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 60.[27] Magny defeated Kunimoto via submission in the third round, earning him his first Performance of the Night honors.[28]
Magny faced Lim Hyun-gyu on May 16, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 66.[29] Magny won the fight via TKO in the second round, which also produced a Performance of the Night bonus.[30][31]
Magny faced Demian Maia on August 1, 2015, at UFC 190.[32] He lost the fight by submission in the second round.[33]
Just twenty-two days after his loss to Maia, Magny stepped in as a short notice replacement for Rick Story to face Erick Silva on August 23, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 74.[34] He won the fight via split decision.[35]
Magny faced Héctor Lombard on March 20, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 85.[40] After nearly being finished with strikes in the first round, Magny defeated Lombard via TKO in the third round.[41] He also was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[42] After this fight with Hector Lombard, Magny signed a four fight extension to his UFC contract.[43]
Magny was expected to face Dong Hyun Kim on August 20, 2016, at UFC 202.[44] However, Kim was removed from the fight on July 12 and was replaced by Lorenz Larkin.[45] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[46]
Magny faced Johny Hendricks on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207.[47] At the weigh-ins, Hendricks missed weight for their bout, weighing in at 173.5 lbs. As a result, Magny received 20% of Hendricks' purse and the bout was made a catchweight fight.[48] Magny won the fight via unanimous decision.[49]
Magny faced Rafael dos Anjos on September 9, 2017, at UFC 215.[50] He lost the fight via arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.[51]
Magny was expected to face Gunnar Nelson on May 27, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 130.[54] However, on April 28, 2018, it was reported Nelson was pulled from the event due to knee injury.[55] On May 15, promotional newcomer Craig White was announced as Magny's new opponent.[56] Magny won the fight via technical knock out in round one.[57]
Magny was expected to face Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on May 18, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 152.[61] However, on March 28, 2019, dos Santos announced that he had not been contacted by the UFC about the match.[62] Magny was the replacement and expected to face Vicente Luque instead.[63] However, it was reported on May 13, 2019, that Magny pulled out of the bout due to testing positive for Di-Hydroxy-LGD-4033.[64]
Magny was expected to face Geoff Neal on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 175.[69] However, Neal withdrew from the event due to health issues and he was replaced by Robbie Lawler.[70] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[71] With this win, Magny earned the second most wins in the welterweight division behind Georges St-Pierre.[72]
Magny faced Michael Chiesa on January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 20.[73] Magny lost the fight via unanimous decision after being controlled on the ground for most of the 5 rounds.[74]
Magny faced Max Griffin on March 26, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33.[77] He won the fight via split decision. With this win, Magny tied Georges St-Pierre for the most wins in the UFC welterweight division with nineteen.[78]
Stepping in as a short notice replacement for an injured Geoff Neal, Magny faced Ian Machado Garry at UFC 292 on August 19, 2023.[90] Magny lost this bout by unanimous decision.[91]
Magny faced Mike Malott on January 20, 2024, at UFC 297.[92] After being primarily dominated on the ground and suffering leg kicks throughout the fight, he came back in the third round and won the fight via technical knockout.[93]
Magny is scheduled to face Carlos Prates in the main event on November 9, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 247.[96]
Professional grappling career
Magny was due to face Miguel Baeza at Fury Pro Grappling 9 on April 4, 2024.[97] He withdrew from the match and was replaced by Guilherme Neves on short notice.[98]