MMASucka staff picks are locked in with our second fight card of 2021. This afternoon, January 20 will see UFC on ESPN 20 take place in Abu Dhabi for the promotion’s continuation of “UFC Fight Island” in the United Arab Emirates. The main card will begin at 12:00pm ET (9:00am PT) live on both ESPN and ESPN+.
Check out our picks from Saturday’s UFC on ABC 1. Also, stay tuned to MMASucka for our pay-per-view main card picks of UFC 257.
The Fights
Welterweights Michael Chiesa and Neil Magny will meet in the main event. Chiesa shared both highs and lows during his first six years in the UFC as a lightweight. Amongst his run, he managed to capture The Ultimate Fighter trophy in 2012 and seven victories. Since returning to 170 pounds in 2018, Chiesa has claimed three-straight victories with his most recent over former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos. His opponent, Magny, also sits at three in-a-row with each in 2020 by unanimous decision. The fight comes as his third promotional main event, having lost in his last featured bout to Santiago Ponzinibbio. A Magny victory would tie the record held by Georges St. Pierre for most wins in UFC welterweight history.
The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil winner Warlley Alves and rising prospect Mounir Lazzez are set to battle in the co-main slot. Alves returns after a moderate layoff in hopes to bounce back after defeat to Randy Brown in 2019. Lazzez targets another impressive UFC bout following his underdog decision victory of Abdul Razak Alhassan in July last year.
See all of our remaining main card picks for UFC on ESPN 20 further below.
Staff Picks
Throughout the calendar year, staff picks will be composed of main card fights from UFC and Bellator MMA events. PFL will make its debut beginning in April, along with an additional promotion to-be-determined this week.
The WINNER of staff picks in 2021 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or chain from Championship Chains. For the third straight year, Michael DeSantis captured the 2020 victory compiling a record of 201-88. Connor Deitrich came in second with a 199-90 record, the tightest MMASucka season yet.
Check out our staff picks for UFC on ESPN 20: Chiesa vs. Magny below.
Staff Records after UFC on ABC 1:
1T. Jeremy Brand: 3-2
1T. Michael DeSantis: 3-2
1T. Mitchell Banuelos: 3-2
1T. Connor Deitrich: 3-2
1T. Dan Rose: 3-2
6T. Wesley Riddle: 2-3
6T. Matt Bricker: 2-3
6T. Andrew Benjamin: 2-3
6T. Nate Freeman: 2-3
6T. Joshua Yule: 2-3
6T. Kenny Lee: 2-3
12T. Ash Camyab: 1-4
12T. Frazer Krohn: 1-4
*Note: Not all staff pick for every event*
Lerone Murphy (9-0-1) vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade (26-3)
Jeremy Brand: Silva de Andrade via UD
Wesley Riddle: Murphy via Round 2 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Murphy via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Murphy via UD
Matt Bricker: Murphy via UD
Connor Deitrich: Murphy via UD
Ash Camyab: Murphy via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Silva de Andrade via UD
Frazer Krohn: Murphy via UD
Dan Rose: Murphy via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Silva de Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Murphy via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Murphy via UD
Staff picking Murphy: 10
Staff picking Silva de Andrade: 3
Matt Schnell (14-5) vs. Tyson Nam (20-11-1)
Jeremy Brand: Nam via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Nam via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Nam via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Schnell via UD
Matt Bricker: Schnell via UD
Connor Deitrich: Nam via UD
Ash Camyab: Schnell via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Nam via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Nam via UD
Dan Rose: Schnell via UD
Mike Lynch: Nam via UD
Nate Freeman: Nam via SD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Nam via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Schnell: 4
Staff picking Nam: 9
Roxanne Modafferi (25-18) vs. Viviane Araujo (9-2)
Jeremy Brand: Modafferi via UD
Wesley Riddle: Araujo via UD
Michael DeSantis: Araujo via UD
Mitchell Banuelos: Modafferi via UD
Matt Bricker: Araujo via UD
Connor Deitrich: Araujo via Round 2 TKO
Ash Camyab: Modafferi via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Modafferi via UD
Frazer Krohn: Araujo via UD
Dan Rose: Araujo via UD
Mike Lynch: Modafferi via UD
Nate Freeman: Modafferi via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Araujo via UD
Staff picking Modafferi: 6
Staff picking Araujo: 7
Ike Villanueva (16-11) vs. Vinicius Moreira (9-4)
Jeremy Brand: Villanueva via UD
Wesley Riddle: Villanueva via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Moreira via Round 1 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Villanueva via Round 2 TKO
Matt Bricker: Villanueva via Round 1 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Moreira via Round 2 SUB
Ash Camyab: Villanueva via Round 1 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Villanueva via UD
Frazer Krohn: Villanueva via Round 2 SUB
Dan Rose: Villanueva via Round 1 TKO
Mike Lynch: Villanueva via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Villanueva via SD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Villanueva via UD
Staff picking Villanueva: 11
Staff picking Moreira: 2
Warlley Alves (13-4) vs. Mounir Lazzez (10-1)
Jeremy Brand: Lazzez via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Lazzez via UD
Michael DeSantis: Lazzez via Round 2 TKO
Mitchell Banuelos: Lazzez via UD
Matt Bricker: Lazzez via UD
Connor Deitrich: Lazzez via Round 1 TKO
Ash Camyab: Lazzez via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Alves via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Lazzez via Round 2 TKO
Dan Rose: Lazzez via Round 3 TKO
Mike Lynch: Lazzez via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Lazzez via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Lazzez via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Alves: 1
Staff picking Lazzez: 12
Michael Chiesa (17-4) vs. Neil Magny (24-7)
Jeremy Brand: Chiesa via Round 1 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Chiesa via Round 3 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Chiesa via Round 3 SUB
Mitchell Banuelos: Chiesa via Round 2 SUB
Matt Bricker: Magny via Round 3 TKO
Connor Deitrich: Magny via UD
Ash Camyab: Magny via UD
Andrew Benjamin: Magny via SD
Frazer Krohn: Magny via UD
Dan Rose: Chiesa via Round 2 SUB
Mike Lynch: Magny via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Magny via UD
Joshua Yule: N/A
Kenny Lee: Magny via UD
Staff picking Chiesa: 5
Staff picking Magny: 8
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