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Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz dominate rivals at UFC 253

Fight fans and commentators were left with their jaws on the floor when a light heavyweight monster completely obliterated his opponent.

James McKernJames McKern
@jLmcKern
3 min read
September 27, 2020 - 3:42PM
Jan Blachowicz dominates Dominick Reyes
Jan Blachowicz dominates Dominick Reyes

You come for the king you best not miss. Unfortunately for Paulo Costa not only did he miss, he didn’t land a single shot.

Israel Adesanya kept his unbeaten streak alive and retained his middleweight belt with an absolute masterclass against his Brazilian challenger.

The heavy favourite going into the bout, Adesanya shocked those watching on by bringing the fight to an end before the second round had even finished..

Watch Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 253 on Sunday. Order now on Main Event!

His dominant victory came on the back of Polish monster Jan Blachowicz brutalising Dominick Reyes to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion.

Recap the entire day’s action right here.

ADESANYA DISMANTLES COSTA IN TWO ROUNDS

AND STILL.
AND STILL.

The undefeated middleweight champion has kept his winning ways alive with a complete and utter masterclass against Brazilian hulk Paulo Costa.

From the outset Adesanya kept the challenger at a distance and picked him apart with constant kicks landing clean on the lead leg. At the end of the opening round the outside of Costa’s left leg was bright right.

As the second round got underway, Adesanya went straight back to work on the leg with Costa simply unable to close the gap and get at the champ.

A high left kick landed on the temple of Costa and cut him open before an Adesanya left hook grazed Costa’s head and dropped him to the canvas before ground and pound brought the bout to an end.

It makes it four UFC title wins for Adesanya, moving him into second all-time and also second all-time on the longest UFC win streaks with nine.

“The best, and most sophisticated striker in the sport!! Holy f*** that was amazing!! Congrats to the champ!!” Joe Rogan wrote.

Adesanya will now await the winner of the October 24 showdown between Aussie Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier.

The champ revealed after the fight he had messaged Cannonier telling him to take care of business against the fomer champ because he wanted to fight him next, not Whittaker.

“I already DM’d Jared Cannonier. He’s a hell of a dude. I love his energy. He’s a beautiful man,” Adesanya said. “I said you destroy Robert Whittaker and you’re next.

“He’s the one I want to fight next. He deserves it. If he beats Robert Whittaker handily and dominates him, he’s next.”

POLISH POWER OBLITERATES REYES

Jan Blachowicz is the new light heavyweight champion after completely dismantling Dominick Reyes in two rounds.

The third ranked Blachowicz was the aggressor from the outset and put the hurt on Reyes with a monstrous left kick that clattered into Reyes’ ribs, leaving a monstrous red welt on his rib cage.

Blachowicz continued to press forward against a timid Reyes and landed big shot after big shot. Midway through the second round Reyes looked to have found a bit more of a groove, but the Polish star turned it back around.

Several big shots found a home on the head of Reyes before a right hand down the middle smashed Reyes’ nose. Moments later it was all over courtesy of a left hand to the temple followed up by ground and pound.

“Jon Jones where are you, don’t be a quitter,” Blachowicz said during his post-fight interview.

SLOBBER KNOCKER KICKS OFF MAIN CARD

Now this is how you kick off a blockbuster main event! Hakeem Dawodu and Zubaira Tukhugov have put on a three-round show to delight fans.

In the end it was Dawodu who had his hand raised after both men delivered brutal shots throughout the entirety of the 15 minutes.

As the fight entered the final minute both men began screaming and swearing at one another in the hopes of a spectacular finish. The referee wasn’t on board and told both fighters “no cussing, keep it clean”.

DEBUTANT’S MURDEROUS KNOCKOUT WIN

Ludovit Klein was thrown onto the UFC 253 card on late notice but could be walking away with a fight bonus after producing a murderous knockout first round win against Shane Young that took only 76 seconds.

Klein set the finish up with a perfectly placed combination. Hitting Young in the head with an on point kick before landing a violent right hand uppercut that turned his opponents lights out.

UFC 253 RESULTS

Main Card

Israel Adesanya defeated Paulo Costa via TKO (punches), 3:59 of Round 2

Jan Blachowicz defeated Dominick Reyes via TKO (punches), 4:36 of Round 2

Brandon Royval defeated Kai Kara-France via submission (guillotine choke), 0:48 of Round 2

Ketlen Vieira defeated Sijara Eubanks via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Hakeem Dawodu defeated Zubaira Tukhugov via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

Prelims

Brad Riddell defeated Alex Da Silva via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Jake Matthews defeated Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision (30-26 x3)

Ludovit Klein defeated Shane Young via knockout, 1:16 of round 1

William Knight defeated Aleksa Camur via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

Early Prelims

Juan Espino defeated Jeff Hughes via submission (arm triangle choke), 3:48 of round 1

Danilo Marques defeated Khadis Ibragimov via unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/ufc/ufc-253-live-updates-israel-adesanya-vs-paulo-costa/news-story/a2242d197f34a6850bd4d39b80eb39e3