The UFC has returned to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, for its latest pay-per-view card, and today the headliners for UFC 253 faced off for the media.
Watch Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa faceoff
In what the UFC is billing as one of the biggest middleweight fights in the promotion’s history, champion Israel Adesanya will battle rising star, Paulo Costa.
The two have been trading verbal shots for months and on Saturday, both men will be looking to hand the other their first defeat.
One of the biggest fights in middleweight history!
? @Stylebender vs ?? @BorrachinhaMMA
[ LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/TVVwQnXeOh ] pic.twitter.com/NzqQktFLHi
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2020
Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz meanmug each other
In the cards co-headiner, Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz will throw down for the light heavyweight crown, Jon Jones recently vacated.
The contenders have been pretty respectful of one another leading up to UFC 253. But, as you can see by watching the clip below, today they were all about the business.
A new dawn at light heavyweight! ?
Who leaves on the throne? @DomReyes vs @JanBlachowicz
[ LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/TVVwQnXeOh ] pic.twitter.com/Om3QSJbaRO
— UFC (@ufc) September 24, 2020
UFC 253 line-up
Here is the line-up for UFC 253, which is going down on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, Saturday (line-up via MMA Mania).
UFC 253 PPV Main Card on ESPN+
185 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa
205 lbs.: Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Blachowicz – for vacant light heavyweight title
125 lbs.: Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Royval
135 lbs.: Ketlen Vieira vs. Sijara Eubanks
145 lbs.: Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
UFC 253 Prelims Card on ESPN2/ESPN+
155 lbs.: Brad Riddell vs. Alex Da Silva
170 lbs.: Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Matthews
145 lbs.: Ludovit Klein vs. Shane Young
205 lbs.: Aleksa Camur vs. William Knight
UFC 253 Prelims Card on Fight Pass/ESPN+
265 lbs.: Juan Espino vs. Jeff Hughes
205 lbs.: Khadis Ibragimov vs. Danilo Marques
*Fight card, bout order and the amount of matches subject to change
More About:MMA MMA Frenzy Sports