UFC 253 takes place Saturday at the Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. The pay-per-view card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view. In the main event, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faces Paulo Costa.
Adesanya won the 185-pound title in October 2019 with a knockout win over Robert Whittaker. Adesanya’s first defense of the title came in March of this year when he defeated Yoel Romero.
In his most recent bout, Costa went the three round distance with Yoel Romero.
Both fighters are undefeated. Adesanya has a career record of 19-0. Costa enters the 185-pound title fight at 13-0.
UFC 253 takes place in Abu Dhabi. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+ and ESPN2 and early prelims on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
Before Saturday’s event takes place, here are some facts, stats and numbers for Adesanya vs. Costa.
Israel Adesanya:
Adesanya’s striking accuracy is 48 percent.
Adesanya lands 3.31 significant strikes per minute
Adesanya absorbs 3.96 significant strikes per minute.
Adesanya’s striking defense is 65 percent.
Adesanya’s takedown accuracy is 0 percent.
Adesanya’s takedown average is 0.00 per 15 minutes.
Adesanya’s takedown defense is 86 percent.
Adesanya averages 0.3 submissions per 15 minutes.
Adesanya is tied for third in longest middleweight winning streak in UFC history at eight.
Adesanya is tied for third in most title fight wins in UFC middleweight history with three.
Adesanya is tied for sixth in most UFC middleweight fight night bonuses with six.
Adesanya has the longest average fight time in UFC middleweight history at 15:53.
Adesanya is tied for third in most knockdowns landed in UFC middleweight history with 10.
Adesanya is tied for fifth in UFC middleweight history in significant striking defense at 65.5 percent.
Adesanya has the second best takedown defense in UFC middleweight history at 86.5 percent.
Paulo Costa:
Costa’s striking accuracy is 57 percent.
Costa lands 8.43 significant strikes per minute
Costa absorbs 6.84 significant strikes per minute.
Costa’s striking defense is 53 percent.
Costa’s takedown accuracy is 0 percent.
Costa’s takedown average is 0.00 per 15 minutes.
Costa’s takedown defense is 80 percent.
Costa averages 0.0 submissions per 15 minutes.
Costa ranks second in UFC middleweight history in lowest bottom position time at 0:49.
Costa ranks sixth in UFC middleweight history in lowest bottom position percentage at 2.25.
Costa ranks third in UFC middleweight history in knockdown average per 15 minutes at 1.65.
Costa ranks third in UFC middleweight history in significant striking accuracy at 57.8 percent.
Costa ranks first in UFC middleweight history in significant strikes landed per minute with 8.43.
