Israel Adesanya is undefeated. Paulo Costa is undefeated. That will change on Saturday -- don't even mention a draw, please -- when they meet for Adesanya's middleweight championship in the main event of UFC 253 in the promotion's return to "Fight Island" in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The co-main event is a title fight as well, with Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz vying for the light heavyweight championship vacated in August by longtime champion Jon Jones.
The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view, which fans can purchase here. Prelims are on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m.
Adesanya (19-0, 8-0 in the UFC) will be making the second defense of the title he captured last year from Robert Whittaker. His first defense was a unanimous decision over Yoel Romero in March.
Costa (13-0, 5-0 UFC) also made his most recent appearance against Romero, winning by unanimous decision in August 2019. Prior to that, Costa had had finishes in every fight, most in the first round.
Reyes (12-1, 6-1 UFC) suffered his only career loss in his previous fight, an unsuccessful challenge of Jones in February. Blachowicz (26-8, 9-5 UFC) has won three fights in a row and seven of his past eight. He is coming off a first-round knockout of Corey Anderson in February.
How to watch UFC 253:
Watch the prelims on ESPN2: Download the ESPN App | WatchESPN | TV
Don't have ESPN2? Get instant access.
Don't have ESPN+ for the prelims and PPV? Get it here.
Purchased the fight on your phone and want to stream on your TV? Find out how here.
UFC 253 fight card
PPV (via ESPN+), 10 p.m. ET
Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Paulo Costa | Middleweight
Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Blachowicz | Light heavyweight
Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Royval | Men's flyweight
Ketlen Vieira vs. Sijara Eubanks | Women's bantamweight
Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov | Men's featherweight
ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET
Brad Riddell vs. Alex Da Silva | Lightweight
Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Matthews | Welterweight
Shane Young vs. Ludovit Klein | Men's featherweight
William Knight vs. Aleksa Camur | Light heavyweight
Juan Espino vs. Jeff Hughes | Heavyweight
Khadis Ibragimov vs. Danilo Marques | Light heavyweight
(c) = defending champion
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