Former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler has agreed to replace surging contender Geoff Neal in a bout against Neil Magny later this month, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.
Neal (13-2) was scheduled to face Magny (23-7) at UFC Fight Night on Aug. 29, but he announced on social media Sunday that he had pulled out because of a recent health scare that resulted in a weeklong hospitalization. Lawler (28-14), who hasn't fought since August 2019, was already looking for a fight around that time frame, sources said.
In his social media post, Neal, 29, revealed he "almost died" and was hooked up to a dialysis machine. MMA DNA first reported Lawler as his replacement.
Fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Lawler is looking to snap a three-fight skid. He suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in a five-round decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos in December 2017, and has lost to Ben Askren and Colby Covington in two return fights since. His most recent win was a decision against Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in July 2017.
Magny is looking to improve on a 4-1 mark in his past five appearances. He is coming off a decision win against Anthony Rocco Martin in June. He is already 2-0 so far in 2020.