Tag: UFC on ESPN 20

Jon Anik says UFC Fight Island stretch will be ‘most challenging week’ of his career

Jon Anik has covered plenty of shows throughout his career, but no stretch will be more hectic than the UFC’s upcoming run on “Fight Island.”

ABU DHABI – Jon Anik has covered plenty of shows throughout his career, but no stretch will be more hectic than the UFC’s upcoming run on “Fight Island.”

Anik, who will serve as the play-by-play guy for all three events, has a packed schedule ahead of him. With UFC on ABC 1, UFC on ESPN 20 and UFC 257 happening in a span of eight days, Anik faces plenty of preparation ahead of a star-studded week.

“It’s not ideal,” Anik told MMA Junkie and other reporters on Thursday. “I have a lot of respect for the NFL guys that do 17 straight weeks. A lot of our play-by-play guys have never even done a back-to-back. I think that’s just the nature of our beast. There’s so much that goes into the preparation and if you just want to play a numbers game – say 26 fighters times three, 75 fighters if you’re giving everybody an hour, that’s 75 hours. That’s two work weeks.

“I try to give every fighter an hour and in a back-to-back situation like this, with another show sandwiched in between, it’s impossible. So I’ll do the best I can to turn the page to Chiesa-Magny on Monday, but I gotta start my UFC 257 card on Tuesday. So I’ll be sort of double dipping a little bit, and this will be the most challenging fight week that I have ever gone through. To have other things on my plate during a pay-per-view week is something that I’ve never experienced.”

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The UFC on ABC 1 main card, headlined by Max Holloway vs. Calvin Kattar, airs on ABC and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

UFC on ESPN 20, headlined by Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny, takes place Jan. 20 and airs entirely on ESPN.

UFC 257, headlined by the return of Conor McGregor in a rematch with Dustin Poirier, will stream on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

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‘Fight Island’ commentary teams, broadcast plans set for three events ending with UFC 257

The broadcasting teams are set for UFC on ABC 1, UFC on ESPN 20 and UFC 257 on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.

The UFC’s 2021 schedule kicks off this week. A three-event stretch on “Fight Island” will usher in a new calendar year for the promotion, as UFC on ABC 1, UFC on ESPN 20 and UFC 257 are slated to unfold at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Similar to the promotion’s previous trips to the region, some very high-profile fights are set to unfold on the three fight cards that take place over one week’s time. And as always, some marquee on-air talent will be there to help guide viewers through the experience.

Details of who will be working as commentators and analysts for each event have been acquired by MMA Junkie through a person with knowledge of the situation, and you can see the scheduled broadcast teams for each event below.

UFC on ESPN 20 gets Omari Akhmedov vs. Tom Breese after four-day COVID-19 delay

The middleweight fight will take place 96 hours later than expected due to COVID-19-related issues.

[autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tom Breese[/autotag] is still in the UFC’s plans – just for a later date than expected.

The middleweight matchup was originally scheduled for Saturday’s UFC on ABC 1 card on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. However, the promotion announced Tuesday the fight has been pushed back to UFC on ESPN 20, which takes place Wednesday, Jan. 20, due to “COVID-19 related issues.” The UFC did not elaborate further on the matter.

Akhmedov (20-5-1 MMA, 8-4-1 UFC) has only lost once in his most recent seven outings. After he went 5-0-1 in six fights, Akhmedov fought former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in August and lost a unanimous decision.

Breese (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) returned from a 21-month layoff in February 2020 and lost by first-round TKO to Brendan Allen. In October, he returned and defeated promotional newcomer KB Bhullar by TKO in 1 minute, 43 seconds.

With the addition, the UFC on ESPN 20 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 12 p.m. ET)

  • Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny
  • Warlley Alves vs. Mounir Lazzez
  • Vinicius Moreira vs. Ike Villanueva
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Roxanne Modafferi
  • Lerone Murphy vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 a.m. ET)

  • Omari Akhmedov vs. Tom Breese
  • Gaetano Pirrello vs. Ricky Simon
  • Zarrukh Adashev vs. Su Mudaerji
  • Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Markus Perez
  • Francisco Figueredo vs. Jerome Rivera
  • Mike Davis vs. Mason Jones
  • Tyson Nam vs. Matt Schnell
  • Manon Fiorot vs. Victoria Leonardo
  • Sergey Morozov vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

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Spinning Back Clique: How critical is mental aspect of McGregor vs. Poirier rematch at UFC 257?

Check out the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique” focused on the UFC’s upcoming three events on “Fight Island.”

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, host John Morgan is joined by panelists Brian Garcia from MMA Junkie Radio, as well as MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn and Nolan King. Let’s get into it!

SHOW TOPICS:

  • Future UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier recently came out and said [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]’s mindset is key heading into his rematch with [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] at UFC 257, that “The Diamond” needs to convince himself he just got caught in their first meeting. This comes on the heels of McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, stating that “The Notorious” should have a huge advantage in the mental department due to his first-round knockout in 2014, and McGregor saying he’ll score a knockout in less than a minute. The old cliche is “styles make fights,” but should it be “minds make fights”? How big is the mental aspect here?
  • Before UFC 257, the UFC’s “Fight Island” run kicks off with a sensational featherweight main event on network television with [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] at UFC on ABC 1. For Kattar, it’s all upside, with a real chance to prove himself among the division’s elite. But for Holloway, it’s his first non-title fight since 2016 and would seem to be a potential crossroads fight, even at just 29 years old. That being said, how much pressure is on Holloway? Is this a must-win situation?
  • Looking outside of “Fight Island,” UFC president Dana White recently said he’s hoping to see [autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] fight in 2021 but admitted he’s not incredibly optimistic. It’s been 14 months now since Diaz has fought, and we know he’s only coming back for the biggest fights available. What fight could entice Diaz to get back in the octagon?
  • [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] took home MMA Junkie “Fight of the Year” honors in 2020 for her epic battle with Zhang Weili, but right now, the former UFC champ said she’s content waiting on the sidelines until the right opportunity arises. She’d like more money and said fans are a must, and she really believes a title shot should be on the table, too. What do you make of her comments, and is there an ideal scenario you envision for her return this year?
  • Between UFC on ABC 1, UFC on ESPN 20 and UFC 257, what is one bold prediction for this three-event span on “Fight Island”?

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 62 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.

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Michael Chiesa ‘not expecting to look pretty beating Neil Magny’ at UFC on ESPN 20

Michael Chiesa is being realistic about the challenge he’s up against going into his UFC on ESPN 20 headliner with Neil Magny.

[autotag]Michael Chiesa[/autotag] is a realist. And when it comes to his UFC on ESPN 20 headliner with [autotag]Neil Magny[/autotag], he knows there’s a good chance he’ll have to dig deep to get his hand raised.

Chiesa (17-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns to the octagon for the first time in almost a year when he meets Magny (24-7 MMA, 17-6 UFC) in a welterweight main event on Jan. 20. The card takes place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and airs on ESPN.

Magny is one of the more consistently successful welterweights in UFC history, having racked up 17 wins in the weight class – just two shy of Georges St-Pierre’s all-time record. Beating Magny is a difficult task for anyone, but doing it with style points is even more challenging. Chiesa will be seeking a definitive end, he said, but is also wise enough to know it might not play out that way.

“You can’t expect to look good beating Neil,” Chiesa told MMA Junkie. “That’s a tough expectation to put on yourself when you’ve got a guy as well-rounded as he is. He doesn’t really have any glaring weaknesses. He’s just a good all-around fighter. He’s very well conditioned. He comes from a good team. Good human being. There’s really nothing bad I can say about the guy. He’s just a good all-around sport. But I have certain aspects to my game. He’s good at everything, but I think there’s things that I do better than he does. Those are the things I need to emphasize and capitalize on.

“I think I’m going to surprise a lot of people with how I look coming out there. I’m not the same guy that fought (Rafael dos Anjos) … I’m not expecting to look pretty beating Neil Magny. I’m just going to go in there and do whatever I need to do to get the job done. I’m going to be pursuing a finish as I always am, but if we got to go blood-and-guts for five rounds, so be it. I’m ready to do whatever I’ve got to (do to) get the job done.”

Chiesa was only able to fight once in 2020. He beat former UFC champ dos Anjos early in the year, but then a string of injuries – including a botched surgery – took away his ability to compete until now.

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Chiesa said there was upside to the time off, though: He was able to hit his groove as a UFC analyst, working several cards over the course of the year and gaining some perspective on his life and career. He said he’s come out the other end better for it, especially on the mental side.

“It was just a challenging time,” Chiesa said. “My mind definitely played some tricks on me throughout last year. Once I was cleared to get back to full training – before I left for ‘Fight Island’ for the analyst gig (in July), I knew I was back. I got cleared by the doctor to train 100 percent again, and even that first week back once I got cleared I was like, ‘Dude, your mind is playing tricks on you. You’re still just as good as you were before.’ I was able to sharpen my mind as well as my skills. That’s probably the best thing I gained through last year was getting to do the nine shows as an analyst. It sharpened my mind. That’s a very hard thing to do as a fighter.”

Chiesa’s return fight was originally supposed to be the co-main event of UFC on ESPN 20. However, when Khamzat Chimaev withdrew from the planned headliner against Leon Edwards, the bout was elevated to the new headliner.

With a main event spot comes the duty of being slated for five rounds, but Chiesa said it was a welcomed change that he took in stride.

“I’ve never once thought, ‘Oh I don’t want to come back and do five rounds after not fighting for a year,'” Chiesa said. “It’s the first time it’s been brought to my attention, so obviously not a worry in my mind. … I think if I would’ve known long in advance that I was fighting in the main, maybe I would’ve, like, gone too hard in training and would’ve hurt myself. Training for those extra two rounds, you’ve got be very intricate. You’ve got to go about it in a very measured way.”

A victory for Chiesa would move him to 4-0 since he moved up to 170 pounds from lightweight in December 2018. He’s currently ranked No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie welterweight rankings, with Magny an honorable mention, but Chiesa said he’s not thinking about what the future holds.

Magny is an opponent to be fully respected, Chiesa said, and he’s not allowing himself to think of anything beyond his upcoming fight.

“Usually I have like a name in mind for what comes next or I’m thinking about other things outside of the fight, in a good way – not like lack of focus,” Chiesa said. “This is a fight where I’ve been so zoned in on this guy and just laser-focused on Neil Magny, just because I know how evenly matched this fight is. I’ve got to be on my ‘A’ game when that octagon door closes. I know I have the tools to get the job done, and I know my mind and my body are ready to go to whatever bounds I need to to beat this guy.”

https://youtu.be/jrG4Ne22aEI

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Calvin Kattar aims to hand Max Holloway first KO loss, set up title shot in UFC on ABC 1 headliner

Max Holloway has the most fights in UFC history without being knocked down, but Calvin Kattar hopes to change that at UFC on ABC 1.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] still considers Max Holloway to be the top featherweight in the sport, and thus a win over the former champion in the UFC on ABC 1 headliner would help his own case for that claim.

Holloway (21-6 MMA, 17-6 UFC), a former UFC titleholder at 145 pounds, is coming off a pair of close and somewhat controversial decision losses to current divisional kingpin Alexander Volkanovski. The nature of those fights have led many to argue “Blessed” is still the top dog in the division, and Kattar (22-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) has a hard time disagreeing.

Kattar has said leading into the main event matchup that he thinks Holloway has perhaps put too much focus on the results of his fight with Volkanovski, and a potential third meeting down the line. That’s led him to feel slightly overlooked, and though Holloway said that’s not the case, Kattar further encouraged the Hawaiian not to make what he said would be a grave error.

“I’m not concerned how he feels,” Kattar told MMA Junkie on Monday. “I was just stating that people still consider him still the champ – rightfully so. But to focus on the current champ and not the future champ would be a mistake.”

UFC on ABC 1 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena. The main card airs on ABC and ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

For Kattar, the fight marks the third main event of his UFC tenure. He’s 1-1 in previous headliners. He lost to Zabit Magomedsharipov in October 2019 and beat Dan Ige in July 2020. The Boston native thinks his past experiences atop the card have groomed him for the moment, and he expects everything to accumulate perfectly going into the upcoming fight night.

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“I don’t feel like the stage is too big or anything like that,” Kattar said. “I know I belong in these moments. (I had) just a little tactical error (in my first main event against Magomedsharipov). I cleaned it up with Jeremy (Stephens) and Ige, and now I have a big test ahead of me with Max Holloway, who is arguably one of the best featherweight fighters of all-time. It’s great to have these opportunities and just show where I stack up among the division’s best.”

Through eight UFC fights so far, Kattar’s power has been a proven difference-maker. His boxing poses a major threat to the competition, but in Holloway he meets one of the most durable fighters in UFC history. Holloway has never been finished by strikes and has gone 23 octagon appearances without being knocked down, which is a record-tying number.

Kattar said the knockout will be on his mind, and it would be the perfect exclamation mark on the biggest fight of his life.

“That’d be a nice way to write it up,” Kattar said. “I’m always looking to get the finish – every time I step in there, I’m looking to go for the kill. It’ll be no different stepping across from Max in there. It’s a great test and I’m excited. I’ve been ready all year long, and it couldn’t come at a better time.”

If Kattar gets his hand raised Saturday, he will have four victories in his past five fights and a strong claim to fight the winner of Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega, who are expected to meet in the next UFC featherweight title fight this year.

He said it’s difficult to agree with that notion, especially given Holloway’s decorated resume in the sport.

“Prior to this fight (being booked), I thought if you want a title shot you’ve got to go through Max to get it,” Kattar said. “I said that before I got the opportunity to fight him. Some people consider him still the champ. A win over him I think puts me next in line.”

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UFC on ESPN 20’s Michael Chiesa: Win vs. Neil Magny won’t ‘look pretty’

Michael Chiesa discusses his welterweight main event with Neil Magny at UFC on ESPN 20 on “Fight Island” and more in this interview with Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie.

Michael Chiesa discusses his welterweight main event with Neil Magny at UFC on ESPN 20 on “Fight Island” and more in this interview with Mike Bohn of MMA Junkie.

Fan tickets gone in a hurry for Conor McGregor-Dustin Poirier rematch at UFC 257 on ‘Fight Island’

Fans will be in attendance when the UFC returns to “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi for a three-event stint starting next week.

Fans will be in attendance when the UFC returns to “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi for a three-event stint starting next week.

And early Friday in the U.S., tickets already were gone not long after they went on sale for UFC 257 on Jan. 23. at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. That event features a rematch between former lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor and former interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier.

Tickets that started at $795 Arab Emirates Dirham (about $216 USD) and went all the way up to $4,995 AED ($1,360 USD) all show as sold out at Etihad Arena’s official website.

The website also lists an abundance of health and safety rules that must be adhered to by fans, and though a total number of tickets available was not announced, the site says “seating capacity has been reduced to comply with social distancing rules.”

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Tickets remain available for UFC on ABC 1 next Saturday, as well as UFC on ESPN 20, which takes place Wednesday, Jan. 20. UFC on ABC 1 will be headlined by a featherweight fight between former champion Max Holloway and Calvin Kattar. Four days later, Michael Chiesa meets Neil Magny in the UFC on ESPN 20 main event. Tickets start at $595 AED ($162 USD)

The three events will be the first time since March 2020 that the UFC will have fans in attendance. After getting past the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and cancellations of events, White and the UFC eventually put on a series of events without fans in Jacksonville, Fla., then have made the UFC Apex in Las Vegas its semi-permanent home, also without fans. In addition, the UFC twice in 2020 made multi-event visits to “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi for fight cards without fans.

But the big-splash finale for the three-event run in Abu Dhabi over the course of just seven days is UFC 257, which will feature a rematch between former lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor and former interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier.

McGregor is the UFC’s biggest draw by far. He has headlined all but three of his 12 career UFC fights, including his past seven on pay-per-view. In January 2020, he fought Donald Cerrone and generated a reported 1 million pay-per-view buys, which was his lowest number since UFC 189 did a reported 825,000 buys for his interim featherweight title win over Chad Mendes. His UFC 229 submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov generated a reported UFC record 2.4 million buys.

Where the UFC will have to suffer likely significant losses are in the live gate totals that McGregor fights typically have generated, mostly in Las Vegas. His UFC 246 fight against Cerrone ha a live gate in excess of $11 million at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena and UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden in New York each generated more than $17 million in live gate totals – an MMA record, as well as the Garden’s gate record.

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