A pivotal welterweight clash is on tap for Jan. 20 in Abu Dhabi, as
Neil
Magny is expected to square off against Michael
Chiesa at a UFC Fight Night event.
ESPN
was first to report the pairing. UFC Fight Night takes place on Yas
Island in Abu Dhabi and is headlined by a 170-pound tilt between
Leon
Edwards and Khamzat
Chimaev. Either Chiesa or Magny could serve as a back up for
the main event, according to the report.
After not competing at all in 2019, Magny went 3-0 within the Las
Vegas-based promotion this year, earning successive decision
triumphs against Jingliang
Li, Anthony
Rocco Martin and Robbie
Lawler. The Elevation Fight Team product is 17-6 in UFC
competition with other notable wins against the likes of Carlos
Condit, Johny
Hendricks, Hector
Lombard, Kelvin
Gastelum and Tim Means.
Chiesa, meanwhile, has emerged as a contender at 170 pounds since
moving up from lightweight in 2018. “The Ultimate Fighter 15”
winner has kicked off his welterweight run with victories against
Carlos
Condit, Diego
Sanchez and Rafael dos
Anjos. “Maverick” went 7-4 during his stint at 155 pounds.