Two fighters wearing belts will walk into Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, but only one champion will walk out.
UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker takes on interim champion Israel Adesanya Saturday night in the main event of UFC 243 live on ESPN+ pay-per-view. The card marks just the fourth time that the Octagon has set up shop in Melbourne and the second at Marvel Stadium.
Inside The Octagon: Robert Whittaker Vs. Israel Adesanya
Whittaker, a 28-year-old from New Zealand, will be the hometown fighter. He is on a nine-fight win streak that includes victories over Yoel Romero (twice), Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Derek Brunson and Rafael Natal. Related: UFC Champion Robert Whittaker Admits He Was Just Tired Of It All
Back in 2017, Whittaker bested Romero via decision to claim the interim title. That belt was later promoted to the UFC middleweight championship when Georges St-Pierre vacated his title. Last June, he bested Romero via split decision, but do to Romero missing weight, it was a non-title fight.
Adesanya improved to 17-0 in his career with an April decision over Kelvin Gastelum for the interim title. He has also bested former champion Anderson Silva, Brunson and Brad Tavares in his last three bouts.
In the latest edition of “Inside The Octagon,” John Gooden and former UFC welterweight title contender Dan Hardy offer up their thoughts and insight into Whittaker vs. Adesanya.
The card will also feature a lightweight co-main event between Al Iaquinta and Dan Hooker, along with heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Serghei Spivak squaring off. Luke Jumeau taking on Dhiego Lima and former UFC champion Holly Holm battling Raquel Pennington complete the planned main card for the evening.
Among the key prelim fights are Jake Matthews vs. Rostem Akman and Megan Anderson meeting Zarah Fairn dos Santos.
UFC 243 Fight Card
MAIN CARD (ESPN+ Pay-Per-View)
UFC Middleweight Championship
Robert Whittaker (c) vs. Israel Adesanya (ic)
Lightweight: Al Iaquinta vs. Dan Hooker
Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Serghei Spivak
Welterweight: Luke Jumeau vs. Dhiego Lima
Female Bantamweight: Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN)
Welterweight: Jake Matthews vs. Rostem Akman
Heavyweight: Justin Tafa vs. Yorgan De Castro
Welterweight: Callan Potter vs. Maki Pitolo
Female Featherweight: Megan Anderson vs. Zarah Fairn dos Santos
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass)
Lightweight: Jamie Mullarkey vs. Brad Riddell
Female Flyweight: Nadia Kassem vs. Ji Yeon Kim
Bantamweight: Khalid Taha vs. Bruno Silva