Magny takes split decision over Gastelum in UFC Fight Night 78 main event

Magny’s doing more than just accepting the difficult challenges, he’s consistently winning.

The 28-year-old won for the ninth time in 10 fights with a split decision over Kelvin Gastelum in the main event of “The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale” card in Monterrey, Mexico on Saturday night.

Magny controlled the bout for the first two-and-a-half rounds and appeared to be in control. Gastelum started to turn the tide in the third round before completely taking over in the final two rounds.

As the fight went to the judges, the outcome came down to how they scored the third round. Two of the judges awarded it to Magny. The crowd, which was partial to Gastelum from the beginning, disagreed vociferously.

“It was a great fight,” Magny said on the microphone over the boos. “Sorry it didn’t go your way, but I’m glad we can just come out here and enjoy the sport together. With all the crazy stuff going on in the world, for us to be able to come out and enjoy something we love, all together, this is very important right now.

“Thank you for being a great audience and letting me come out and perform for you guys. There’s nothing in the world I’d rather be doing right now than be out here performing for you guys, living the dream.”

Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo had what will likely be the most impactful win on the card.

Cejudo remained unbeaten in MMA and improved to 4-0 in the UFC with a split decision victory over Jussier Formiga.

The victory quite possibly earned Cejudo the next shot at flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.

“Against Demetrious, I want to display every art that I have and I haven’t really done that in the UFC. I’ve just been standing up with guys.” Cejudo said. “Against somebody of his caliber, I’m going to display every tool, every weapon that I have.

I do believe I’m the next in line to get the shot. Who else is next? If anybody can, Mexi-can.”

The split decision was a bit surprising. Cejudo won all three rounds on two scorecards, but Formiga was awarded a 29-28 verdict by the third judge.

“I was just extra cautious because I know he likes to take the back. The whole plan was to stay on the feet with him and that’s exactly what we did.”

A bloody Diego Sanchez, competing in his fourth UFC weight class, pleaded with Ricardo Lamas to engage in the kind of all-out brawl that has become Sanchez’s signature.

Lamas, however, remained disciplined and picked his spots to inflict damage on his way to a unanimous decision victory in a featherweight bout.

“I want to thank a true warrior, Diego Sanchez,” Lamas said after the fight.

Lamas has now won three of four fights since dropping a unanimous decision to Jose Aldo in a featherweight title bout in 2014.

Sanchez has lost three of his last four fights.

Enrique Barzola and Erick Montano earned “TUF” season titles with decision victories on the card.

Barzola took Horacio Gutierrez down at will to earn a unanimous decision victory to win the lightweight tournament.

Montano was awarded a split decision over his close friend Enrique Marin in a somewhat lackluster welterweight final.

Lightweight Leandro Silva earned a unanimous decision victory over veteran Efrain Escudero to open the main card.

Monterrey native Erik “Goyito” Perez highlighted the preliminary card by returning from a 17-month layoff to score a unanimous decision victory over Taylor Lapilus in a bantamweight bout.

Bartosz Fabinski and Michel Prazeres also earned decision victories.

Alejandro Perez hurt veteran bantamweight Scott Jorgensen with a leg kick late in the first round and Jorgensen eventually couldn’t continue after gutting it out for nearly the entire second round.

Polo Reyes, Alvaro Herrera and Team Alpha Male product Andre Fili all recorded first-round knockout victories.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.