Countdown To UFC 243 Featuring Robert Whittaker-Israel Adesanya

Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya will square off for the undisputed UFC middleweight title this Saturday night at UFC 243.

The event takes place live on ESPN+ pay-per-view from Melbourne, Australia.

But how did we get to this point? And what have Whittaker and Adesanya done to prepare for one another.

Countdown To UFC 243: Robert Whittaker Vs. Israel Adesanya

Good thing you asked, as the folks over at UFC have put together another great “Countdown” series to spotlight both the main event and co-main event for the card this weekend.

Whittaker was forced out of action due to an extreme emergency, but has vowed to return and secure his standing in the middleweight division. Adesanya turned a victory over former champion Anderson Silva into an interim title fight with Kelvin Gastelum, keeping his record perfect and becoming a champion himself for the first time.

Related: Inside The Octagon Breaks Down Robert Whittaker Vs. Israel Adesanya

Countdown To UFC 243: Al Iaquinta Vs. Dan Hooker

Al Iaquinta agreed, on short notice, to face Khabib Nurmagomedov. That showed the willingness of Iaquinta to take on anyone, anytime and any place.

He’ll return this Saturday to meet Dan Hooker in a key lightweight showdown.

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

Heavyweight: Justin Tafa vs. Yorgan De Castro

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN)

Welterweight: Jake Matthews vs. Rostem Akman

Welterweight: Callan Potter vs. Maki Pitolo

Lightweight: Jamie Mullarkey vs. Brad Riddell

Female Featherweight: Megan Anderson vs. Zarah Fairn dos Santos

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass)

Female Flyweight: Nadia Kassem vs. Ji Yeon Kim

Bantamweight: Khalid Taha vs. Bruno Silva