GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Mark Magsayo dominates Irish foe, scores TKO in Zuffa Boxing debut
Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo made quick work of “Fearless” Feargal McCrory, scoring a technical knockout victory in the co-main event of Zuffa Boxing 5 on Monday (Philippine time) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In the fifth round, the Filipino unleashed a relentless barrage on a battered McCrory, forcing the Irishman’s corner to step in and stop the fight.
Magsayo looked right at home in his new weight class at 135 pounds, outclassing his opponent with superior speed and power. More notably, the former WBC featherweight world champion appeared loose and confident throughout the bout.
“Big difference, the weight, the training camp, the sparring, and everything,” Magsayo told Max Kellerman during the post-fight interview.
“I’m strong, powerful. This is my division. This is my prime. This is my weight. Let's go!”
The 30-year-old Boholano entered the contest as a sizable favorite and quickly showed why. He dictated the pace from the opening bell, consistently landing the cleaner, more impactful shots even as McCrory tried to apply pressure.
The turning point came in the fourth round when Magsayo rocked McCrory with a perfectly timed right hand that sent him stumbling backward. Moments before the bell, he followed it up with another heavy shot, setting the stage for the finish in the next round.
With the win, Magsayo improved his professional record to 29-2 and made a strong case as one of the potential cornerstones of the upstart Zuffa Boxing promotion, which is backed by the same group behind the UFC.
—JMB, GMA News
