UFC Fight Island 7 is down one bout with the last minute cancellation of a middleweight clash between Phil Hawes and Nassourdine Imavov.

Sources confirmed that cancellation following an initial report by RTSport.

Hawes’ manager, Daniel Rubenstein, told ESPN that his fighter was not medically cleared Saturday morning, but that the issue was not COVID-19 related. He added that the bout could be rescheduled as soon as next Saturday’s UFC 257, which also takes place in Abu Dhabi.

Hawes vs. Nassourdine was slated to be the featured bout on the UFC Fight Island 7 prelims. The main card is topped by former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and rising contender Calvin Kattar and will be simulcast on ESPN+ and ABC.

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/ufc-fight-island-7-loses-fight-at-the-last-minute

ABU DHABI – Matt Schnell spoke to the media Friday ahead of UFC on ESPN 20.

Schnell (13-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) discussed his flyweight bout against Tyson Nam (20-11-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC), the physical and mental difficulties of his long career layoff, including some “dark days,” and much more.

UFC on ESPN 20 takes place Wednesday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The card airs on ESPN.

Watch the complete video of Schnell’s media day appearance above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-on-espn-20-matt-schnell-recounts-dark-days-during-layoff

ABU DHABI – Viviane Araujo spoke to the media Friday ahead of UFC on ESPN 20.

Araujo (9-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) discussed her flyweight matchup against Roxanne Modafferi (25-17 MMA, 4-5 UFC), wanting to build her name off of the veteran, climbing the rankings, and much more.

UFC on ESPN 20 takes place Wednesday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The card airs on ESPN.

Watch the complete video of Araujo’s media day appearance above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-on-espn-20-viviane-araujo-happy-with-another-big-name

ABU DHABI – Mounir Lazzez is looking to venture out in 2021.

Lazzez (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who made history as the first Arab-born and Arab-raised fighter signed to the UFC, had an impressive promotional debut when he upset Abdul Razak Alhassan in July.

Lazzez is set to make his return to “Fight Island” on Wednesday, when he takes on Warlley Alves at UFC on ESPN 20. But Lazzez isn’t only looking for an impressive showing against Alves (13-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), the Tunisian striker hopes to remain in Abu Dhabi as a backup for any fight that falls through.

No matter what the weight class is.

“If I finish Alves early in this fight, I will ask Dana to give me a fight after three days,” Lazzez told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on Friday ahead of UFC on ESPN 20. “If there’s anyone at lightweight, welterweight or middleweight, for real, I mean it. I can make lightweight now for this fight. I can fight in welterweight. I can fight in middleweight. This is what martial arts is about. I’m not here just (to) give me four months, give me two months to fight. I’m ready anytime, anywhere, and I mean it.”

Training out of Team Nogueira in Dubai, Lazzez missed out on the opportunity to compete on the UFC’s last “Fight Island” stint, when he was forced to withdraw from his October bout against David Zawada due to a positive COVID-19 test. He will be facing a far more octagon experienced fighter in Alves and is well aware of the dangers that the Brazilian brings to the table.

“He’s a good fighter. He’s a well rounded fighter,” Lazzez said. “He comes to fight on the feet, the ground, as well too. He has a good guillotine. He doesn’t attempt takedowns, but he has good striking, and that’s what makes it interesting.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-on-espn-20-mounir-lazzez-ready-three-weight-classes

The Ultimate Fighting Championship kicks off 2021 in a big way with its return to broadcast television.

UFC Fight Island 7 (also known as UFC on ABC 1) will air on the ABC broadcast network. ABC and UFC broadcast partner ESPN are both owned by The Walt Disney company.

UFC’s return to network television is also its return to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, which kicks off its 2021 schedule of events.

Former featherweight champion Max Holloway headlines the UFC Fight Island 7 fight card opposite rising contender Calvin Kattar. The event also features longtime veterans Carlos Condit and Matt Brown in the co-main event, as they each near the end of their respective careers.

Check out the UFC on ABC 1: Holloway vs. Kattar cold open that UFC president Dana White tweeted on Thursday.

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