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Adesanya faces Costa at UFC in Abu Dhabi

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Two blockbuster title fights will headline UFC 253 as big-time MMA defies the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic anew when it returns to Fight Island in the Middle East on Sunday, September 27, 2020.

Paulo Costa (left) battles Yoel Romero in this file photo of their fight at UFC 241 held August 17, 2019 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. AFP

Israel Adesanya defends his UFC middleweight crown against Paulo Costa in the main event at the Flash Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz battle for the vacant UFC light heavyweight crown in the co-main event.

Adesanya defends his crown for the second time after he won the title by knocking out Robert Whittaker in the second round of their match last October. He retained the diadem with a unanimous decision victory over Yoel Romero last March.

Adesanya is unbeaten in 19 pro fights. He has been busy the past few years posting eight wins inside the UFC Octagon since February, 2018. Costa is likewise unbeaten, winning all of his 13 pro fights.

The last time two unbeaten male fighters squared off for a UFC championship was in 2009 when Rashad Evans lost his light heavyweight title to Lyoto Machida.

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Reyes and Blachowicz will be fighting for the light heavyweight throne vacated by Jon Jones who will move up to heavyweight.

Reyes lost a narrow decision to Jones at UFC 247 last February. Before that he won 12 consecutive pro fights. A grizzled veteran, the 37-year-old Blachowicz has 28 wins and eight losses in a checkered pro career that dates back to 2007.

Other fights in the main card include Brandon Royval taking on Kai Kara-France at flyweight; Ketlen Viera battling Sijara Eubanks at women’s bantamweight; and Zubaira Tukhugov facing Hakeem Dawodu at featherweight.

In the preliminary card Brad Riddell takes on Alex da Silva at lightweight; Diego Sanchez battles Jake Matthews at welterweight; Shane Young faces Ludovit Klein at featherweight; Aleksa Camur tangles with William Knight at light heavyweight.

Big boys battle in the early prelims when Juan Espino faces Jeff Hughes at heavyweight and Khadis Ibragimov takes on Danilo Marques at light heavyweight.

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