Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
To stream UFC 253 LIVE on ESPN+ PPV click here!
The official return to “Fight Island” will get underway this evening (Sat., Sept. 26, 2020) at UFC 253 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., as UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya puts his 185-pound title on the line against undefeated knockout artist Paulo Costa.
But before “Last Stylebender” and “Eraser” lock horns in what many are considering a potential Fight of the Year candidate, the rest of the UFC 253 main card and “Prelims” will play out in devastating fashion (hopefully). From a co-main event title fight between light heavyweights Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz to a welterweight clash pitting Octagon legend Diego Sanchez against “Celtic Kid” Jake Matthews, the UFC 253 fight card should deliver from top to bottom.
We’ve compiled the best of the best below — with all video footage courtesy of UFC and ESPN — and will continue to share the action as it rolls in. Enjoy!
The suavest man on Fight Island!
? @BruceBuffer gets proceedings underway like only he can! #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/QiCdrZNqu4
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 26, 2020
Danilo Marques def. Khadis Ibragimov via UD
Salvado por la campana? La estrategia es clara! #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/TIhvkhau0P
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) September 26, 2020
Debut win!
@Danilo_Marquesc gets the UD to open the night.
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/j0PVA82RBv
— UFC (@ufc) September 26, 2020
Juan Espino def. Jeff Hughes via first-round submission (scarf hold neck crank)
Big time squeeze by @juan_espino_ofi
Stream #UFC253 on #ESPNPlus ?? https://t.co/dHQ2KWEzdN pic.twitter.com/1XsxOOUnVa
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 26, 2020
William Knight def. Aleksa Camur via UD
HAND HOVERING TO TAP!
How in the world did Camur last til the bell?
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/hPSIPz4OKj
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Connecticut on the light heavyweight map
William Knight gets the UD in his debut!
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/HheqYTCz3b
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Ludovit Klein def. Shane Young via first-round KO (head kick and punches)
HEADKICK ARTIST
Ludovit Klein puts Slovakia on the map!
[ Tune in LIVE on ESPN2 ] pic.twitter.com/0oj8dN5p1Y
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Matthews
Mic’d up!
As requested- we go into the corner of Diego Sanchez.
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/MowAwdWoRX
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
“I just beat Diego Sanchez.”
A surreal moment tonight for @JakeMatthewsUFC
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/FhO57TYjy2
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
The Celtic Kid! ??@JakeMatthewsUFC continues his welterweight run on #UFCFightIsland
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/bJqRLoNAHD
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Brad Riddell def. Alex da Silva via UD
Q U A K E ! @BradQuakeRiddel #UFC253 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/a7JrGxdJd3
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) September 27, 2020
Suenan los golpes! #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/hwUfeaQb1z
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) September 27, 2020
En modo bestia, busca finalizar Riddell #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/kfenyoy26J
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) September 27, 2020
Hakeem Dawodu def. Zubaira Tukhugov via UD
They are THROWING here in RD 2!! #UFC253#InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/InBVVkTrmV
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) September 27, 2020
MEAN HAKEEM WANTS TO BRAWL!!!! #UFC253#InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/jnU8s2BEc3
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) September 27, 2020
Big scrap for Mean Hakeem! Decision up next #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/3rXVd0pmK7
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) September 27, 2020
Ketlen Vieira def. Sijara Eubanks via UD
Qué pelea están dando estas chicas! #UFC253#InAbuDhabi @visitabudhabi pic.twitter.com/lrsW10So4j
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) September 27, 2020
Ketlen comienza a tomar control de la pelea #UFC253#InAbuDhabi @visitabudhabi pic.twitter.com/tiwcFazyrw
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) September 27, 2020
1??5?? hard fought minutes in the books.
Show us those scorecards
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/aTmRlQMEgt
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Brandon Royval def. Kai Kara-France via second-round submission (guillotine choke)
CHAOS These flyweights are off to a FURIOUS start!
[ #UFC253 – LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/NCKWIc3hsJ
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
The knee caught him The pace to this one is INSANE!
[ We’re LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/EBVYwyuCS7
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
NEW CONTENDER ALERT @BrandonRoyval SQUEEZES out a guillotine in RD 2.
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/Cf93brMWkf
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
2??-0??! @BrandonRoyval is running through the flyweight ranks.
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/9JeejUY8ng
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Jan Blachowicz def. Dominick Reyes via second-round TKO (punches)
You know what it is…
LEGENDARY POLISH POWER
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/l5YjXPeR2g
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Will he finally get his crown? @DomReyes is here for the throne!
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/sBzCdPYjNE
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
LET’S DANCE.
: @DomReyes vs @JanBlachowicz
[ We’re LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/nUexOceZgg
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Así arrancamos la acción de la co-estelar! #UFC253 #InAbuDhabi @visitabudhabi pic.twitter.com/qfgXEobqsF
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) September 27, 2020
THERE’S A NEW KING AT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT @JanBlachowicz #UFC 253 pic.twitter.com/IWS1tRvqEo
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 27, 2020
#ANDNEW @JanBlachowicz is the KING of the 205ers!
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/6riviPqGEX
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
He’s got the belt
But @JanBlachowicz wants a shot at the LHW !
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/yLHcZuCIDK
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Israel Adesanya def. Paulo Costa via second-round TKO (punches)
UNDEFEATED HERCULES.
@BorrachinhaMMA‘s biggest stage has just arrived.
[ We’re LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/e2Tn7oLaWK
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
No dancing. No antics.
@Stylebender is a man on a mission.
[ We’re LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/BaJTWnwELf
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
CHILLS.
We lock the Octagon doors in a matter of seconds
[ We’re LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/f124mMDTNt
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
“Romero.”
Adesanya & Costa pose for quick sec in RD 1.
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/bLHPQFRvE5
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Inteligente y efectivo el campeón! #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/QX7f6yPjSG
— ufcespanol (@UFCEspanol) September 27, 2020
High or low, the kicks of @stylebender are landing #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/fg9KztckKD
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 27, 2020
TOO EASY.
@Stylebender is the undefeated king of the middleweights.
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/lz5C9DsDN7
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
The celebration has begun for @Stylebender #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/VCEzBfRwZo
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
The undisputed king!@Stylebender is untouchable at middleweight
[ #UFC253 | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/vyhCK9i1ei
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
THE RUN. #UFC253 pic.twitter.com/h62VD2jIyU
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
For complete UFC 253 results and coverage click here.