UFC Fight Island 8 takes place today, Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The event will stream live on ESPN+ with prelims starting at 9:30 am (ET) and the main card commencing at 12 pm (ET).
Read on for The Body Lock’s staff predictions ahead of UFC Fight Island 8: Chiesa vs. Magny.
The event features 14 fights and will be headlined by a brilliant welterweight matchup between Michael Chiesa (#8) and Neil Magny (#9).
Chiesa is currently on a three-fight win streak dating back to December 2018 when he defeated Carlos Condit by second-round submission. Chiesa went on to defeat Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision in 2019 and then beat Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision in January 2020. The 33-year-old has enjoyed nothing but success since moving up to welterweight in 2018 but this fight is likely to be his biggest test in the 170-pound division considering that Magny himself is on a roll.
Magny, who is also 33-years-old, is similarly on a three-fight win streak as we head into UFC Fight Island 8. All of Magny’s wins came in 2020, however, as he managed to secure unanimous decision victories against Robbie Lawler, Anthony Rocco Martin, and Jingliang Li.
Michael Chiesa vs. Neil Magny predictions
Most popular pick: Magny to win by unanimous decision
- Neil Magny: 3 picks (60%)
- Michael Chiesa: 2 picks (40%)
Betting odds: Magny is favored to win the UFC Fight Island 8 main event with odds of -135.
- Michael Chiesa: +125 ($2.25)
- Neil Magny: -135 ($1.74)
Warlley Alves vs. Mounir Lazzez predictions
- Mounir Lazzez:Â 5 picks (100%)
- Warlley Alves: 0 picks (0%)
Ike Villanueva vs. Vinicius Moreira predictions
- Vinicius Moreira: 3 picks (60%)
- Ike Villanueva: 2 picks (40%)
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Viviane Araujo predictions
- Viviane Araujo: 3 picks (60%)
- Roxanne Modafferi: 2 picks (40%)
Lerone Murphy vs. Douglas Silva de Andrade predictions
- Lerone Murphy: 4 picks (80%)
- Douglas Silva de Andrade: 1 pick (20%)
Matt Schnell vs. Tyson Nam predictions
- Tyson Nam:Â 3 picks (60%)
- Matt Schnell: 2 picks (40%)
UFC Fight Island 8 staff predictions
- Abhinav Kini: Magny (UD), Lazzez, Moreira, Araujo, Murphy, Schnell
- Drake Riggs: Chiesa (UD), Lazzez, Moreira, Modafferi, Murphy, Nam
- Jake Nichols: Magny (UD), Lazzez, Villaneuva, Araujo, Murphy, Nam
- Matthew Wells: Magny (UD), Lazzez, Villaneuva, Modafferi, Murphy, Schnell
- Patrick Auger: Chiesa (SUB, R1) , Lazzez, Moreira, Araujo, Andrade, Nam