Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Michael
Chiesa imposes his will as well as anyone in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 15 winner rode repeated takedowns,
smooth positional advances and crushing top control to a unanimous
decision over Neil Magny
in the
UFC on ESPN 20 headliner on Wednesday at Etihad Arena in Abu
Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. All three judges scored it 49-46 for
Chiesa (18-4, 11-4 UFC), who improved to 4-0 since relocating to
the welterweight division.
Called out!@MikeMav22
[
had only one name in mind after that!
#UFCFightIsland8 |
#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi
] pic.twitter.com/dXBQcdShL8— UFC (@ufc)
January 20, 2021
Magny (24-8, 17-7 UFC) looked hapless at times, frustrated at
others. Chiesa did just enough on the feet to give the Elevation
Fight Team mainstay pause, pursued him in the clinch and went to
work after dragging him to the ground. The scene repeated itself
over and over again in the five-round clash. Magny had a few
glimmers of hope — he threatened Chiesa with an inverted triangle
in the fourth round — but too few of them to make any real
headway.
Alves Obliterates Favored Lazzez
“The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 3 winner Warlley
Alves cut down the favored Mounir
Lazzez with a burst of body kicks and follow-up punches in the
first round of their welterweight co-main event. Lazzez (10-2, 1-1
UFC) succumbed to blows 2:35 into Round 1.
Alves (14-4, 8-4 UFC) stormed out of the gate, caught the Tunisian
off-guard and never took his foot off the gas. He executed a trip
takedown, then pinned Lazzez to the fence after he returned to an
upright position. Once the two men separated, Alves uncorked three savage body kicks. Lazzez folded
and was in no condition to withstand the volley of punches that
came next.
Still just 30 years of age, Alves has won four of his past six
bouts.
Villanueva One-Punch KOs Moreira
Former Fury Fighting Championship titleholder Isaac
Villanueva knocked out Vinicius
Moreira in the second round of their light heavyweight
showcase. Moreira (9-5, 0-4 UFC) met his end 39 seconds into Round
2, transported to another dimension by a counter right
hook from the brick-fisted Texan.
Villanueva (18-11, 1-2 UFC) chipped away with body shots through an
uneventful first round, bided his time and waited for an
opportunity to present itself. Moreira wandered into the danger
zone early in the second, let his hands fly and exposed his head to
the counter. Villanueva did not miss.
Moreira remains winless in four UFC appearances.
Resurgent Araujo Dominates Modafferi
Exquisite standup and airtight takedown defense spurred Cerrado MMA
standout Viviane
Araujo to a one-sided unanimous decision over Roxanne
Modafferi in a featured flyweight confrontation. Scores were
30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 for Araujo (10-2, 4-1 UFC), who continues to
distance herself from a lackluster defeat to Jessica Eye
a little more than a year ago.
Modafferi (25-18, 4-6 UFC) was resolute, but the skill gap proved
too wide to cross. Araujo connected with one blistering combination
after another, leaving “The Happy Warrior” with significant damage
around her left eye. The Brazilian also excelled in the grappling
exchanges, using Modafferi’s attempts to drag her to the ground to
her advantage. In the end, there was nowhere for the affable
43-fight veteran to turn.
A finalist on Season 26 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Modafferi has
alternated wins and losses in each of her last nine outings.
Fast-Handed Schnell Edges Nam
“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 24 quarterfinalist Matt
Schnell rebounded from his December 2019 knockout loss to
Alexandre
Pantoja, as he eked out a split decision over Tyson Nam in a
three-round flyweight feature. All three judges struck 29-28
scorecards: Michael Bell and Anders Ohlsson for Schnell, Eric Colon
for Nam.
The 31-year-old Schnell (15-5, 5-3 UFC) was quicker on the draw and
routinely beat the heavy-handed Hawaiian to the punch. He pieced
together two-, three- and sometimes four-punch volleys and his chin
stood the test against Nam’s nuclear right hand whenever it was
called upon. Nam (20-12-1, 2-3 UFC) stepped up his activity in the
third round, but his 15-minute hunt for the knockout shot came up
empty.
A dark horse in the 125-pound weight class, Schnell has won five of
his last six fights.
Undefeated Murphy Denies Silva de Andrade
Manchester Top Team prospect Lerone
Murphy cleared another significant hurdle in his development,
as he took a unanimous decision from Douglas
Silva de Andrade in a three-round featherweight attraction. The
undefeated Murphy (10-0-1, 2-0-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with
29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 nods from the judges.
Silva de Andrade (26-4, 4-4 UFC) exacted a toll with his overhand
right and briefly achieved full mount in the second round, but he
otherwise struggled to do business. Murphy punched effectively to
the head and body, attacked his lead leg with a series of
devastating calf kicks and even mixed in a late takedown to cut off
a late surge from the Brazilian.
The 35-year-old Silva de Andrade has lost three times in his past
five appearances.
Akhmedov Arm-Triangle Submits Breese
American Top Team’s Omari
Akhmedov submitted former British Association of Mixed Martial
Arts champion Tom Breese
with an arm-triangle choke in the second round of their
middleweight showcase. Breese (12-3, 5-3 UFC) conceded defeat 1:41
into Round 2, as he lost for the third time in five outings.
Akhmedov (21-5-1, 9-4-1 UFC) executed a takedown in the first
round, freed himself from an attempted guillotine and launched a
sustained barrage of ground-and-pound that had the Team Renegade
rep in real danger for several tense moments. Breese rebounded late
in the frame, advanced to the back and fished for a rear-naked
choke, only to run out of time. Akhmedov powered through the Brit’s
bid for a calf slicer early in Round 2, transitioned to full mount and cinched the choke
for the tapout.
The submission was Akhmedov’s first since May 11, 2013.
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