Tag: Israel Adesanya

UFC 253 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: Dominick Reyes hoops it up

With time to kill in Abu Dhabi, UFC 253’s title fight competitors go out to find things to do.

The UFC returns to “Fight Island” on Saturday night, as UFC 253 kicks off the company’s next residency in the Middle East.

UFC 253 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Two title fights top the card. The main event is a grudge match, as middleweight champion[autotag] Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) defends his belt against. [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC). And a new light heavyweight champ will be crowned, with [autotag]Jan Blachowicz [/autotag](26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vs. [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) set to fill the belt vacated by former champion Jon Jones.

The second episode of “Embedded” catches up with the big-name stars at the top of the card as they settle into Abu Dhabi. Here’s the UFC’s description:

Title contender Jan Blachowicz enjoys the pool and the travel, as does Sijara Eubanks. Champ Israel Adesanya watches his coaches train. Co-headliner Dominick Reyes plays basketball with his team and family, and then the group bikes around Fight Island.

Check out the latest edition of “Embedded” above. Missed an episode? No problem, we’ve got you covered below:

[vertical-gallery id=375856]

Inside the Numbers: Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa| UFC 253 pre-fight facts 10.12.54 pm.mov

Check out the key facts, figures and footnotes for UFC 253, which is headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa.

Check out the key facts, figures and footnotes for UFC 253, which is headlined by Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa.

UFC 253 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Leaving Las Vegas

Leading stars, including Israel Adesanya and Dominick Reyes, get ready to journey halfway around the planet for their upcoming fights.

The UFC returns to “Fight Island” on Saturday night, as UFC 253 kicks off the company’s next residency in the Middle East.

UFC 253 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Two title fights top the card. The main event is a grudge match, as middleweight champion[autotag] Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) defends his belt against. [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC). And a new light heavyweight champ will be crowned, with [autotag]Jan Blachowicz [/autotag](26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vs. [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) set to fill the belt vacated by former champion Jon Jones.

[lawrence-related id=553893,553962,553899]

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the big-name stars at the top of the card. Here’s the UFC’s description:

The stateside stars of UFC 253 — including champ Israel Adesanya, Dominick Reyes, Sijara Eubanks, Kai Kara France, Diego Sanchez and more — grab an early-morning charter from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi.

You can watch “Embedded” above.

UFC 253: 3 reasons to watch Paulo Costa vs. Israel Adesanya

These two title fights should be a lot of fun.

The UFC is back this weekend with a big pay-per-view event this Saturday night at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi that features two title fights that should be pretty darn fun.

The co-main event is the battle for the light heavyweight belt that the legendary Jon Jones recently gave up in order to make the move to heavyweight. Dominick Reyes, who lost to Jones via decision back in February, takes on Jan Blachowicz, who has won three straight fights.

Watch UFC 253 on ESPN+

The main event is the one I really can’t wait for as Paolo Costa faces middleweight champ Isreal Adesanya.

Here are three reasons to watch UFC 253.

3. Diego Sanchez is on the card.

If Diego Sanchez is fighting then I’m watching, it’s just one of those things that I live my life by. Sanchez, of course, is the last fighter from The Ultimate Fighter 1 still in the fight game and there’s no telling how many more times we’ll be able to see him in the Octagon. The 38 year old is taking on Jake Matthews in the preliminary card and who knows what fun stuff Sanchez is going to try to pull off in the fight and who knows what kind of crazy stuff he’s going to say leading up to it. As I said before, I’m all in on his fights.

2. Who will take Jon Jones’ old belt?

Dominick Reyes came very, very close to beating Jones back at UFC 247 when he lost a close decision that many thought should have gone his way. Reyes desperately wanted a rematch with Jones, but that isn’t happening now. Instead, Reyes gets to fight Jan Blachowicz for the title and this should be a fun one. Blachowicz has won two of his last three fights via KOs and should be looking to to end another fight with his fists. Reyes’ only loss was the one to Jones, so he seems primed to have a belt wrapped around his waist.

1. Costa vs. Adesanya could be an instant classic.

Adesanya is one of the most exciting fighters we’ve seen in years. Well, his last fight against Yoel Romero was anything but exciting, but I’m hoping that was just a matchup issue and he had to do his best to stay away from a one-punch knockout. We haven’t seen Costa in the Octagon since UFC 241 just over 13 months ago when he beat Romero in a legendary fight that was full of beautiful violence. This title fight will hopefully have those types of fireworks, as there is some bad blood between these two guys, even if they had a funny run-in this week in Abu Dhabi.

Video: UFC 253 ‘Countdown’ for Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa

Check out a preview of the middleweight title fight taking place at UFC 253.

Did you miss the debut of “UFC 253 Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the main event preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the middleweight title fight between champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC).

UFC 253 takes place Saturday at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

“Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

Video: Israel Adesanya, Paulo Costa size each other up in ‘Fight Island’ run-in before UFC 253

Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa ran into each other on “Fight Island.”

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] and [autotag]Paulo Costa[/autotag] got a good look at each other Sunday.

The two middleweights ran into each other in Abu Dhabi ahead of their UFC 253 title fight Saturday. The pay-per-view event will go down in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and will stream on ESPN+.

[lawrence-related id=552985,547928]

In the brief run-in, champion Adesanya and challenger Costa sized each other up and had a friendly interaction ahead of their five-round contest.

Adesanya made sure to note Costa’s size, since that’s been a big topic of discussion the build-up to the fight. Brazil’s Costa claims Adesanya is too skinny and fragile, while “The Last Style Bender” calls Costa an “overly inflated balloon animal” who’s on steroids. Costa has denied the PED allegations and has never failed drug tests under USADA’s oversight.

Both Adesanya and Costa are undefeated in their professional MMA careers and both are coming off decision wins against Yoel Romero. Adesanya defeated Romero in February, while Costa outpointed the Cuban in August 2019.

Below is the video of the run-in between Adesanya and Costa:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFWisvsJpN5/?igshid=1w1kbszvppbnb

[vertical-gallery id=497932]

UFC champ Israel Adesanya signs Puma sponsorship deal

Israel Adesanya becomes the first MMA fighter to be sponsored by Puma.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] has a new sponsor.

It was announced Thursday that Adesanya, the UFC middleweight champion, signed a sponsorship deal with Puma – one of the world’s leading athletic apparel brands. Adesanya (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) becomes the first MMA fighter to be an ambassador for Puma.

Pancho Gutstein, general manager of Puma Oceania, said the company is thrilled to partner with the undefeated champ.

“We’re ecstatic to be welcoming one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed athletes to the Puma family,” Gutstein said in a statement.”Not only is Israel a fearless and incredibly talented athlete, but his passion for dancing, fashion, anime, and his memorable personality makes him a standout individual to represent the brand.”

[lawrence-related id=552511,551087,548376]

The announcement comes as Adesanya prepares for his second UFC middleweight title defense against dangerous unbeaten striker Paulo Costa. The middleweight clash is set to headline UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 26.

Below is a video of Adesanya announcing the partnership (via Twitter):

UFC 253’s Israel Adesanya says Costa dangerous, but not most dangerous he’s faced

Israel Adesanya spoke to the media ahead of UFC 253 event on UFC Fight Island.

Israel Adesanya spoke to the media ahead of UFC 253 event on UFC Fight Island.

Israel Adesanya: Jon Jones ‘still part of my plan’ despite his move to heavyweight

Israel Adesanya still has his eyes on a Jon Jones superfight, despite Jones’ move up in weight.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] still has a Jon Jones fight in mind.

The UFC middleweight champion is not letting Jones’ recent move to heavyweight discourage him from angling for a potential superfight with arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time. Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) doesn’t have a timeline for when he’d like to face Jones, but he’s still very much interest in the matchup.

“I still have that in mind, it’s still part of my plan,” Adesanya told MMA Junkie at a virtual press conference Thursday promoting his title defense against Paulo Costa at UFC 253. “But let me ask you this, how many years has Jon Jones been in the UFC? And he only just moved up in weight, right.

“So why would he or anyone else expect me to move up in weight when I just got the belt rather than defend my belt like he has and create a legacy before jumping up in weight. So I’m sticking to my plan. I’m never going to let anyone make me fold or make me make a move ahead of schedule. I’m sticking to my plan.”

[lawrence-related id=550245,547953,549226]

It’s uncertain if fans will ever get a superfight between Jones and the former longtime light heavyweight champion, but for now, fans will get a highly anticipated middleweight title bout with Adesanya against Costa. The two will square off in the main event of UFC 253 on Sept. 26. The event will go down in Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

“Stylebender” is taking Costa very seriously, but he maintains he does not consider his opponents to be among the best strikers he’s faced in the UFC.

“He’s not one of the best,” Costa said. “I’ve faced way better strikers. In the UFC, he’s definitely not the best striker. I think (Anderson) Silva is a better striker than him, (Robert) Whittaker is a different striker than him, but can be better. So he’s not the best striker I’ve fought, but he’s dangerous. But you have to remember, so am I.”

[vertical-gallery id=497932]