Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya looks to add his name to an elite list of dual-weight UFC champions as he faces Jan Blachowicz for the promotion’s light heavyweight gold in the main event of UFC 259 on Saturday.
Undefeated Adesanya (20-0), who won the undisputed title at 185lbs in 2019, has twice retained his belt, recording a unanimous decision victory against Yoel Romero exactly one year ago before finishing then-undefeated Paulo Costa in the second frame in September.
And the next step for the Nigerian-born New Zealander is to move up a weight class and battle 205lbs champion Blachowiz (27-8) in a contest that marks the Pole’s first defence of his belt. Blachowicz, 38, won the vacant light heavyweight championship on the same card that Adesanya, 31, beat Costa, TKOing Dominick Reyes in the second round of their meeting.
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If Adesanya is to emerge victorious in the main event of UFC 259 on Saturday, he will become the UFC’s fifth ever dual-weight champion, following in the footsteps of Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo and Amanda Nunes.
Nunes (20-4) is also in action in Las Vegas on Saturday night, defending her featherweight gold against Megan Anderson (11-4). The co-main event, meanwhile, marks the third title fight of a stacked card at UFC’s Apex institute as bantamweight champ Petr Yan (15-1) makes his first defence, against Aljamain Sterling (19-3).
Here’s everything you need to know about an event full of mouthwatering match-ups.
When is it?
The early preliminary card will get under way at 11pm GMT on Saturday 6 March. The prelims follow at 1am GMT on Sunday morning, with the main card beginning at 3am GMT.
How can I watch it?
In the UK, UFC 259 will be available to watch live on BT Sport 2, with subscribers also able to stream the event live on the broadcaster’s website and app.
In the US, the action will air live on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
Prediction
Light heavyweight champion Blachowicz is not getting enough credit ahead of the main event. Many fans and pundits expect another technical masterclass from former kickboxer Adesanya, but Blachowicz’s power is tremendous and has earned him stoppage wins in three of his last four bouts.
The question is whether the Pole can get his hands on the agile Adesanya, however. If he can do that, and/or take down the 185lbs champion, there are certainly ways for Blachowicz to win here.
Without wanting to sound hypocritical, though, Adesanya might just be on another level, and with the right gameplan he could well emerge as champ-champ on Saturday. Adesanya via decision.
Full card
Main card
Blachowicz (C) vs Adesanya (C) – light heavyweight
Yan (C) vs Sterling – bantamweight
Nunes (C) vs Anderson – women’s featherweight
Makhachev vs Dober – lightweight
Santos vs Rakic – light heavyweight
Prelims
Cruz vs Kenney – bantamweight
Yadong vs Phillips – bantamweight
Benavidez vs Phillips – flyweight
Bontorin vs Kara-France – flyweight
Early prelims
Elliott vs Espinosa – flyweight
Nzechukwu vs Ulberg – light heavyweight
Brady vs Matthews – welterweight
Souza vs Lemos – women’s strawweight
Medic vs Cruz – lightweight
Bautista vs Jones – bantamweight
