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UFC 253 is live from Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The headliner is a fight between two undefeated competitors for the middleweight championship in Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa. In the co-main event, the light heavyweight belt will be defended by champion Dominick Reyes against challenger Jan Blachowicz.
There are five fights on the main card, four on the preliminary card, and two that are considered early prelims. that start at 7:00 p.m. Also at flyweight Kai Kara-France faces Brandon Royval.
We’ll be tracking all the results tonight. Below you’ll find the winner, how they secured a victory, and adding gifs and video of exciting moments or stoppages where we can. Follow along throughout the evening!
(C) Israel Adesanya vs. #2 Paulo Costa: Middleweight Championship
Winner: Israel Adesanya
Winning Method: Israel Adesanya wins by TKO at XX of the second round.
Total domination from the start, and the quick left hand was enough to end it. And STILL...
GOODNIGHT COSTA pic.twitter.com/b7oDOSXP4E
— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) September 27, 2020
#1 Dominick Reyes vs. #3 Jan Blachowicz: Light Heavyweight Championship
Winner: Jan Blachowicz
Winning Method: Jan Blachowicz wins by KO at 4:36 of the second round.
One shot was enough, the rest was just window dressing. Jan Blachowicz pulls the upset as a +215 underdog and is the new light heavyweight champion of the world.
JAN BLACHOWICZ TKO'S DOM REYES!!! pic.twitter.com/LLXv89OUdb
— KÏŁŁÄ ČÄM (@FTBeard1) September 27, 2020
#7 Kai Kara-France vs. #9 Brandon Royval: Flyweight
Winner: Brandon Royval
Winning Method: Brandon Royval wins by submission (guillotine choke) at :48 of the second round.
Just a flawless choke from Royval, and France had no chance. The +180 underdog gets a finish!
Brandon Royval scores major upset, via guillotine choke submission #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/F6D7V147uY
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) September 27, 2020
#7 Ketlen Vieira vs. #13 Sijara Eubanks: Women’s Bantamweight
Winner: Ketlen Vieira
Winning Method: Ketlen Vieira wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Vieira gets it done with in a close one, as her two takedowns and ground control lead of 2:27-0:39 were the difference. Eubanks fought valiantly and did claw back to win the third round, but it was too little, too late.
Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov: Featherweight
Winner: Hakeem Dawodu
Winning Method: Hakeem Dawodu wins by split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28).
A bit of controversy here with each of the judges giving all the different possible scores. Dawodu outstruck his opponent 69/35, but was in trouble at times. Ground control of 2:07 and one takedown went to Tukhugov. Probably the right decision, but still close.
Brad Riddell vs. Alex da Silva Coelho: Lightweight
Winner: Brad Riddell
Winning Method: Brad Riddell wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Riddell led in significant strikes 91-55, but trailed on takedowns 3-1 and on ground control 5:17-1:24. A close fight, but for sure the right decision.
Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Matthews: Welterweight
Winner: Jake Matthews
Winning Method: Jake Matthews wins by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26).
Matthews dominated from pillar to post, with 70 significant strikes to 21, and 4:52-0:00 in ground control.
Shane Young vs. Ludovit Klein: Featherweight
Winner: Ludovit Klein
Winning Method: Ludovit Klein wins by TKO (kick) at 1:16 of the first round.
They called it by kick, but it looks like the left hand did him in here.
Ludovit Klein con la combinación impresionante y el K.O. en el primer round. #UFC253 #UFCFightIsland pic.twitter.com/7rSEf1gqKu
— ESPN Deportes (@ESPNDeportes) September 27, 2020
William Knight vs. Aleksa Camur: Light heavyweight
Winner: William Knight
Winning Method: William Knight wins by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27).
Knight led in significant strikes 38-17, and had four of the bouts five takedowns.
Juan Espino vs. Jeff Hughes: Heavyweight
Winner: Juan Espino
Winning Method: Juan Espino wins by submission (neck crank) at 3:48 of the first round.
A dominant performance from the Spaniard, and the -305 favorite makes it look easy.
Big time squeeze by @juan_espino_ofi
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 26, 2020
Stream #UFC253 on #ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/dHQ2KWEzdN pic.twitter.com/1XsxOOUnVa
Khadis Ibragimov vs. Danilo Marques: Light heavyweight
Winner: Danilo Marques
Winning Method: Danilo Marques wins by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Marques dominated the fight on the mat, having the only four takedowns of the bout and holding 7:29 of control. The Brazilian landed only 16 significant strikes, but it was all he needed.
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