Geoff Neal Hospitalized; Robbie Lawler Steps in to Face Neil Magny on Aug. 29 UFC Card

A health scare has forced Geoff Neal out of a proposed welterweight clash against Neil Magny at a UFC event on Aug. 29.

As a result, Robbie Lawler will step in and replace Neal in the bout. MMA DNA was first to report the new matchup, which has since been confirmed by multiple outlets. Neal, meanwhile, shared the news of his hospitalization in an Instagram post.

“These past few weeks have been crazy, and that's putting it lightly,” Neal wrote. “It's really hard to try to find an eloquent way to say ‘I almost died.’ So screw it.. I almost died … This really put a lot of things into perspective for me.

“Never did I ever think I would be hooked up to a dialysis machine before my 30s. Everything was going well for me. Was training everyday, making money at work, just signed a contract for a huge fight, then BOOM, life hit me with a check hook. I'm just glad to be home after having to spend one week in the ICU. Stay healthy out there y'all and listen to your body at all times.”

Lawler, 38, enters the fight with Magny on a three-bout skid. The former welterweight champion last appeared at UFC on ESPN 5, where he dropped a five-round verdict to Colby Covington in August 2019.

Magny has been victorious in four of his last five promotional appearances. Most recenty, the Elevation Fight Team member outpointed Anthony Rocco Martin at UFC 250 on June 9.

The UFC Fight Night card is expected to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and also includes a light heavyweight showdown between Anthony Smith and Aleksandar Rakic.