UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny (also known as UFC on ESPN 20 and UFC Fight Island 8) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 20, 2021, at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[2]
| UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The poster for UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny | ||||
| Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
| Date | January 20, 2021 | |||
| Venue | Etihad Arena | |||
| City | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |||
| Attendance | 2,000[1] | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editStarting with UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar, a limited number of fans were allowed inside the newly built Etihad Arena, marking the first time since UFC 248 in March 2020 that non-essential event personnel were in attendance.[3] The venue has maximum capacity of over 18,000, but the UFC is expecting to have closer to 2,000 fans for each of the Fight Island's events during the week.[4]
A welterweight bout between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev was originally expected to headline this event.[5] They were initially scheduled to serve as the headliner for UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal in December, but the contest was scrapped due to Edwards suffering from severe symptoms of COVID-19.[6][7] In turn, Chimaev pulled out of the contest on December 29 due to his own COVID-19 recovery.[8][9] Edwards had hoped to remain on the card against a replacement, but promotion officials intended to leave the pairing intact and reschedule it again for a later date in 2021.[10] As a result, a welterweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter: Live lightweight winner Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny served as the main-event.[11]
A women's flyweight bout between former UFC Women's Flyweight Championship challenger Roxanne Modafferi and Viviane Araújo was briefly linked to an event expected to take place on January 30.[12] However, the fight was rescheduled and took place at this event instead.[13]
Matt Schnell and Tyson Nam met in a flyweight bout at this event.[14] The pairing was previously scheduled to take place in September at UFC Fight Night: Waterson vs. Hill, but the fight was canceled on the day of the event's weigh-in as Schnell was deemed medically unfit to compete due to complications related to his weight cut.[15] They were first rebooked for UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal, before being moved to this event.[16]
In late December 2020, the UFC opted against holding an event on a planned January 30 date and decided to reschedule several bouts to this card:[17]
- A welterweight bout between former WEC Welterweight Champion and former interim UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit and Matt Brown.[18][19] Finally, they were moved to UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar.[20] They were initially scheduled to meet at UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 in December 2013, but Brown pulled out due to an undisclosed injury.[21] They were booked once again in April 2018 for UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje, but Brown had to pull out a second time as he injured his anterior cruciate ligament.[22]
- A flyweight bout between Jeff Molina and Zarrukh Adashev.[23] They were briefly expected to meet at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos, but were eventually rescheduled for the scrapped date.[24][25] Yet again, Molina withdrew from the event at the end of December due to a positive COVID-19 test and was replaced by Su Mudaerji.[26][27]
- A light heavyweight bout between Vinicius Moreira and Isaac Villanueva.[28][23]
- A bantamweight rematch featuring Pedro Munhoz and Jimmie Rivera.[29][23] They previously met at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 3 in November 2015, when Rivera won via split decision.[30] The pairing was rescheduled once again in early January as they were moved to UFC 258 due to undisclosed reasons.[31]
- A women's flyweight bout between promotional newcomers Victoria Leonardo and Natália Silva.[32][33] In turn, Silva pulled out due to a fractured ulna and was replaced by fellow newcomer Manon Fiorot.[34][35]
A welterweight bout between Mike Jackson and Dean Barry was briefly linked to this event.[36] However, the pairing was scrapped due to undisclosed reasons.[37]
Another matchup that was shortly booked was a middleweight fight between Dalcha Lungiambula and Isi Fitikefu.[38] However, Fitikefu was removed due to an elbow injury and replaced by Markus Perez.[39]
A bantamweight bout between promotional newcomers Umar Nurmagomedov and Sergey Morozov was initially scheduled to take place at UFC 254, but Nurmagomedov pulled out due to an illness.[40] The pairing was then rescheduled for UFC 257.[41] However, the bout was yet again rescheduled to take place at this event.[42]
A middleweight bout between Omari Akhmedov and Tom Breese was originally scheduled for UFC on ABC: Holloway vs. Kattar. However, the pairing was rescheduled to take place at this event due to "COVID-19 related issues".[43][44]
Results
edit| Main card (ESPN / ESPN+) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight | Michael Chiesa | def. | Neil Magny | Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) | 5 | 5:00 | |
| Welterweight | Warlley Alves | def. | Mounir Lazzez | TKO (body kicks and punches) | 1 | 2:35 | |
| Light Heavyweight | Ike Villanueva | def. | Vinicius Moreira | KO (punch) | 2 | 0:39 | |
| Women's Flyweight | Viviane Araújo | def. | Roxanne Modafferi | Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–26) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Flyweight | Matt Schnell | def. | Tyson Nam | Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Featherweight | Lerone Murphy | def. | Douglas Silva de Andrade | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Omari Akhmedov | def. | Tom Breese | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 2 | 1:41 | |
| Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+) | |||||||
| Bantamweight | Ricky Simón | def. | Gaetano Pirrello | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | 2 | 4:00 | |
| Flyweight | Su Mudaerji | def. | Zarrukh Adashev | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Middleweight | Dalcha Lungiambula | def. | Markus Perez | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Flyweight | Francisco Figueiredo | def. | Jerome Rivera | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Lightweight | Mike Davis | def. | Mason Jones | Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Bantamweight | Umar Nurmagomedov | def. | Sergey Morozov | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 3:39 | |
| Women's Flyweight | Manon Fiorot | def. | Victoria Leonardo | TKO (head kick and punches) | 2 | 4:08 | |
Bonus awards
editThe following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[46]
- Fight of the Night: Mike Davis vs. Mason Jones
- Performance of the Night: Warlley Alves and Umar Nurmagomedov
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Jeff Fox (2021-01-20). "UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs Magny fighter salaries, incentive pay & attendance". thesportsdaily.com. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (2020-12-22). "Dana White announces UFC 257, first three events of 2021 to take place on Fight Island". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ Staff (2021-01-07). "Fans are back: UFC will have 'limited' attendance at three-card 'Fight Island' stint at Etihad Arena". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ Newswire (2021-01-10). "Etihad Arena lists official COVID-19 safety measures for fans at January UFC Fight Island shows". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- ^ Blake Schuster (2020-12-10). "Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards planned for Jan. 20, says UFC's Dana White". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ Mike Bohn (2020-10-23). "UFC books Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev, expected to headline Dec. 19". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ Ariel Helwani (2020-12-01). "Sources: Leon Edwards-Khamzat Chimaev fight off after Edwards tests positive for COVID-19". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (2020-12-29). "Khamzat Chimaev ruled out of UFC 'Fight Island' headliner with Leon Edwards". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ Danny Segura (2020-12-30). "COVID-19 complications led to Khamzat Chimaev's withdrawal from Leon Edwards bout". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
- ^ Staff (2020-12-30). "Leon Edwards-Khamzat Chimaev pushed back; Neil Magny-Michael Chiesa new Jan. 20 main event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
- ^ Mike Heck (2020-12-30). "Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny now headlines UFC Fight Island 8". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (2020-10-12). "UFC adds Roxanne Modafferi vs. Viviane Araujo to Jan. 30 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- ^ Jay Pettry (2020-12-03). "UFC to stage Jan. 20 event, adds 3 matches including Francisco Figueirido-Jerome Rivera". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2020-12-11). "Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam rebooked for UFC Fight Night on Jan. 20". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
- ^ Staff (2020-09-11). "Weight-cutting issues scrap Tyson Nam from Matt Schnell fight at UFC on ESPN+ 35". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
- ^ Nolan King (2020-10-25). "UFC books Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam for Dec. 19 event in Las Vegas". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ Ross Cole (2020-12-23). "UFC scraps plans for January 30th Fight Night event". mmainsight.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ Staff (2020-11-12). "Third time's the charm? Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown booked for UFC Fight Night on Jan. 30". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ Redactie (2020-12-22). "Carlos Condit vs. Matt Brown scheduled for the third time, this time on January 20, 2021". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-12-22. (in Dutch)
- ^ Staff (2021-01-07). "UFC returns to UFC Fight Island". ufc.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ Staff (2013-12-07). "Matt Brown injured, fight vs. Carlos Condit scrapped from UFC on FOX 9". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ Dave Doyle (2018-04-02). "Injury forces Matt Brown out of UFC on FOX 29 bout with Carlos Condit". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ a b c Aaron Malone (2020-12-23). "Mike Jackson makes UFC return following CM Punk win, Fight Island card scrapped - Fight announcement roundup". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ Staff (2020-09-14). "Jeff Molina vs. Zarrukh Adashev added to UFC event on November 14". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-09-15. (in Dutch)
- ^ Staff (2020-10-30). "Upcoming fight rescheduled". rotowire.com. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
- ^ Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2020-12-29). "Zarrukh Adashev in need of new UFC Fight Night opponent after Jeffrey Molina withdraws". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
- ^ Staff (2020-12-31). "Su Mudaerji takes short notice match against Zarrukh Adashev on January 20 in Abu Dhabi". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-12-31. (in Dutch)
- ^ Staff (2020-10-19). "Villanueva and Moreira fight for their first UFC win on January 30, 2021". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-10-20. (in Dutch)
- ^ Farah Hannoun and Mike Bohn (2020-11-21). "Pedro Munhoz vs. Jimmie Rivera 2 added to UFC Fight Night on Jan. 30". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (2015-11-07). "UFC Fight Night 77 results: Jimmie Rivera takes split decision from Pedro Munhoz". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ Mike Heck and Guilherme Cruz (2021-01-07). "Pedro Munhoz vs. Jimmie Rivera rematch rescheduled for UFC 258". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
- ^ Marcelo Barone (2020-11-22). "Silva has UFC debut scheduled for January". globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 2020-11-22. (in Portuguese)
- ^ Noah (2020-12-25). "Flyweight bout between newcomers Victoria Leonardo & Natalia Silva being moved to UFC event on January 20". wmmarankings.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ Noah (2020-12-25). "Natalia Silva injured, out of January 20th UFC fight against Victoria Leonardo". wmmarankings.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ Steven Marrocco and Guilherme Cruz (2020-12-26). "Natalia Silva fractures ulna, Manon Fiorot in to face Victoria Leonardo at UFC Fight Island 8". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (2020-12-22). "Mike Jackson returns, faces octagon newcomer Dean Barry at Jan. 20 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
- ^ Damon Martin and Mike Heck (2021-01-01). "Mike Jackson vs. Dean Barry scrapped from UFC Fight Island 8, fight expected to be rescheduled". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (2020-12-29). "Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Isi Fitikefu joins UFC 'Fight Island' lineup for Jan. 20". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
- ^ Staff (2021-01-02). "Short notice match for Markus Perez in Abu Dhabi against Dalcha Lungiambula on January 20". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-01-02. (in Dutch)
- ^ Simon Head (2020-10-18). "Umar Nurmagomedov hospitalized in Dubai, ruled out of octagon debut at UFC 254". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
- ^ Staff (2020-11-24). "Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Sergey Morozov added to UFC 257 on January 23". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-11-24. (in Dutch)
- ^ Farah Hannoun (2021-01-12). "Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Sergey Morozov moved to UFC on ESPN 20 on Jan. 20". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ^ Staff (2021-01-12). "Updates to UFC Fight Island events". ufc.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ^ Nolan King (2021-01-12). "UFC on ESPN 20 gets Omari Akhmedov vs. Tom Breese after four-day COVID-19 delay". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- ^ Trent Reinsmith (2021-01-20). "UFC Fight Island 8 post-fight bonuses: Body kick TKO nets Warlley Alves $50k". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.