ABU DHABI – Neil Magny and Michael Chiesa were not in the initial plans to be the UFC’s main attraction on ESPN 20, but promotion president Dana White still thinks they deserve it.
Originally scheduled to be at the top of the card was a different fight than the welterweight, one between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev. The fight was postponed because Chimaev was unable to get rid of the symptoms of COVID-19. Magny and Chiesa, who were supposed to face each other in the tie, were then elevated to the main event.
“Magny, in my opinion, never gets the credit she deserves,” White told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “This guy fought everyone. He is willing to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. You have to love guys like that. I’m actually happy that he got a seat in the main event.
“Chiesa is a stallion and has been around for a long time. This is a well-deserved fight. (It wasn’t) what we had planned to be there for, but (it’s) great for these two guys. “
The UFC on ESPN 20 takes place Wednesday at the Etihad Arena on “Ilha da Luta” in Abu Dhabi. The main card will air on ESPN after the preliminaries on ESPN / ESPN +.
Check out the complete exclusive MMA Junkie interview with Dana White in the video below: