ABU DHABI – Neil Magny and Michael Chiesa were not in the original plans to lead the UFC 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 welterweight fight, one between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev. The fight was postponed when Chimaev could not shake COVID-19 signals. Magny and Chiesa, who should have been square on the undercard, were promoted to the main event.
“In my opinion, Magny will never get the credit he deserves,” White told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “It simply came to our notice then. He is willing to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. You have to like boys like that. I’m really glad he’s getting a major event slot.
“Chiesa is a stud and has been around for a long time too. This is a well deserved fight. (It wasn’t) the one we were supposed to be, but (it’s) good for those boys. ”
UFC on ESPN 20 takes place Wednesday at Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. The main card shakes on ESPN after an introduction to ESPN / ESPN +.
Check out the full MMA Junkie exclusive interview with Dana White in the video below: