Last week UFC Vegas 11 put on a spectacularly violent display. From the brutal 17-second knockout provided by the rising undefeated sensation, Khamzat Chimaev, to the epic Covington-Woodley rivalry spilling blood inside the octagon. And that was only a Fight Night.
Some would think it would be difficult to top a card of that caliber, but UFC 253 will do just that. We have two epic title fights, and the awaited return to Fight Island. The main card is showcased on pay-per-view, following prelim fights on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
UFC 253 Main Event: Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa
Headlining the main event, two undefeated rivals fighting for the middleweight championship title. Hoping to keep the strap, undefeated champion Israel Adesanya.
Adesanya’s last title defense against legendary Yoel Romero was met with some criticism, due to the fight’s lack of fireworks. One can only assume ‘The Last Style Bender’ is looking to not only beat his rival, but add him to the highlight reel.
The challenger, an undefeated mixed martial artist reigning from Brazil. His last three wins were over UFC household names, Yoel Romero, Uriah Hall, and Johny Hendricks. The one and only, Paulo Costa, is ready for a shot at the middleweight belt.
The clash between these undefeated fighters is expected to be beyond epic, and it is already expected to receive ‘Fight of the Night’ and ‘Performance of the Night’ accolades, if all goes as expected. With Adesanya – who recently called Costa the dirtiest fighter in the UFC – sporting a 19-0 record, and Costa sporting a 13-0 record—one of these undefeated fights is about to experience pain and defeat.
UFC 253 Co-Main: Dominick Reyes vs Jan Blachowicz
With the main event receiving incredible hype, it comes as no surprise the UFC set a co-main to match. Former light heavyweight, Jon Jones, relinquished his belt to pursue a run at heavyweight, leaving the vacant title up for grabs. Dominick Reyes and Jan Błachowicz are set to fight for that title. Reyes is 12-1, with his only loss against then-champion Jon Jones. Błachowicz, a more seasoned fighter, has had 34 career fights and his fair share of ups and downs at 26-8. Out of his past three fights, the Polish fighter defeated two opponents via knockout.
Expect this fight to be just as epic as the main event. The UFC Light heavyweight crown has rested atop Jon Jones’ head for nearly a decade. Come Saturday, it will find a new home. Perhaps, leading in a new era for the division.