Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos prediction, pick, start time for UFC on ESPN 71

5 days ago

Neil Magny and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 71 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Last event: 2-3
UFC main cards, 2025: 72-56-1
Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos UFC on ESPN 71 preview
Magny (29-13 MMA, 22-12 UFC) will aim to avoid dropping three straight for the first time in his career. Magny was finished in the first round in back-to-back fights against Michael Morales and Carlos Prates. The last win for Magny came at UFC 297, a third-round comeback stoppage against Mike Malott. ... Dos Santos (25-9-1 MMA, 11-5-1 UFC) is also entering on the heels of a loss – a second-round stoppage to Chidi Njokuani. Prior to that setback in March, dos Santos finished Zach Scroggin just 75 seconds into their November fight.
Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos UFC on ESPN 71 expert pick, prediction
Serving as a solid offering of two "old heads" is a welterweight clash between Neil Magny and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.
I'm a fan of both fighters, but there's no denying that we're looking at two post-prime products given their recent form. It's hard to tell who is more shot at this point in their careers, and there are good cases to be made for either side, regardless.
I came incredibly close to changing my pick to Magny given how the smaller octagon will likely assist his style, but it's hard to discount the underrated wrestling and grappling of dos Santos.
I'm not sure we get a classic performance from either fighter, so I'll semi-reluctantly side with dos Santos to win on the scorecards for being the more offensively potent competitor in pockets.
Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos UFC on ESPN 71 odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the Brazilian fighter, listing dos Santos (-194) and Magny (+156) via FanDuel.
Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos UFC on ESPN 71 start time, how to watch
Magny and dos Santos are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 9:40 p.m. ET. The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

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WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN

Hypebeast

3 hours ago

Hypebeast

WWE Strikes $1.6 Billion USD Deal With ESPN

Summary In a landmark agreement that reshapes the sports entertainment landscape,WWEhas finalized a multi-year deal withESPN, granting the Disney-owned company exclusive U.S. domestic streaming rights to all WWE Premium Live Events. The deal, valued at $1.6 billion USD over five years, marks a significant strategic victory for WWE and a pivotal move for ESPN's ambitious new streaming service. The agreement, which begins in 2026, will see all of WWE's marquee events—includingWrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and Survivor Series—move exclusively to ESPN's platforms in the U.S. This marks a major shift from WWE's current partnership with NBCUniversal's Peacock, which is set to expire in March 2026. This move aligns WWE's distribution model more closely with that of the UFC, which has seen immense success under the ESPN banner. For ESPN, the deal is a cornerstone of its new direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service, which is launching on August 21st at a price of $29.99 USD per month. WWE's 'immense, devoted and passionate fanbase' is a key draw, with ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro noting that the addition of WWE's biggest events will bolster their content portfolio and 'drive our streaming future.' The statement reads, 'WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fan base that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform. This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future.' The deal not only grants ESPN the rights to the premium live events themselves but also the opportunity to stream pre- and post-show content, fully integrating WWE into its sports media ecosystem. Mark Shapiro, president and chief operating officer of TKO said, 'We are proud to reinforce the 'E' in ESPN at such an exciting juncture in its direct-to-consumer journey. WWE Premium Live Events are renowned for exactly the type of rich storytelling, incredible feats of athleticism and can't-miss, cultural tentpole experiences that have become synonymous with ESPN. Through our UFC relationship, we have experienced firsthand how transformational an ESPN presence can be, and we know this will be an exceptional partnership at a time of great innovation for both companies.' This partnership is part of a larger, aggressive push by ESPN to secure high-profile live event rights ahead of its new streaming service. The company recently finalized a deal with the NFL, which includes an equity stake for the league in exchange for media assets, and is reportedly in talks with Major League Baseball for a new rights package. The WWE deal, therefore, positions ESPN as a formidable force in the streaming wars, leveraging a wide range of live sports and entertainment to attract a diverse audience. While the deal is a massive financial success for WWE, it comes with a potential challenge for fans. The new ESPN streaming service will cost $29.99 USD per month, a significant increase from the $10.99 USD monthly price WWE fans currently pay for Peacock's unlimited plan. However, reports suggest that existing cable and satellite subscribers who receive ESPN as part of their package may be able to access the new WWE content at no additional cost through authentication. This development sets the stage for a new era of WWE viewing, where a single, dedicated platform becomes the exclusive home for all of the company's biggest events. Breaking News: WWE Premium Live Events are headed to@espnplatforms in the U.S. starting in — WWE (@WWE)August 6, 2025