Mark Magsayo stops Irish foe in emphatic lightweight debut

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Former Filipino boxing champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo made a strong lightweight debut by scoring a fifth-round technical knockout (TKO) win over Ireland’s Feargal McCrory on April 6, 2026, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Though undefeated at super featherweight, Magsayo had no trouble at the higher weight, dominating from start to finish.

Magsayo also received praise from Zuffa Boxing, the Filipino’s new promotional company owned by Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White. His masterful display earned him the “Performance of the Night” award, for which he is set to receive a monetary bonus from the organization.

Precise, on point, and calculated with his movement, Magsayo had another day at the office after schooling McCrory as soon as the opening bell rang.

Facing constant pressure as McCrory began to dictate the pace on the front foot, Magsayo didn’t panic, adjusted well with his angles, and caught the Irish challenger several times with his signature left hook.

It took Magsayo only two minutes to decipher McCrory’s head movement pattern, throwing a stiff jab down the middle every time the Irish pug swayed to his left, followed by a shuffle step to the right.

Magsayo began to roll and turn the matchup into a lopsided affair midway through the second round, landing three to four punches that disrupted McCrory’s plan to continue moving forward.

McCrory officially abandoned his aggressive approach after the third round began, respecting Magsayo’s power after eating massive hooks that helped the Filipino take a 2-0 lead.

As the rounds progressed, Magsayo also stepped on the gas pedal after bullying McCrory with brutal combinations.

In the fourth round, the mastery intensified, and the Irishman’s suffering did not stop.

After 21 seconds of the fifth round, McCrory’s corner entered the ring to stop the fight as Magsayo landed a vicious flush right hook and another three-punch combination.

“Right now, I’m so happy, and I’m so blessed,” Magsayo said during the post-fight interview.

“He took a lot of my punches. Maybe the coaches saw that he couldn’t take it anymore. I’m so happy in this weight. I’m so comfortable. I feel good.”