UFC 259 UK start time: When is Adesanya vs Blachowicz?

Middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya is out to join a small list of dual-weight UFC champions as he takes on Jan Blachowicz for the company’s light heavyweight belt this weekend.

Undefeated Adesanya (20-0), who became undisputed champion at 185lbs in October 2019, has twice defended his gold, achieving a unanimous decision victory over Yoel Romero exactly one year ago before stopping then-undefeated Paulo Costa in the second round in September.

And the next step for the Nigerian-born New Zealander is to move up a weight class and take on 205lbs titleholder Blachowiz (27-8) in a fight that marks the Pole’s first title defence. Blachowicz, 38, won the vacant light heavyweight belt on the same evening that Adesanya, 31, beat Costa, stopping Dominick Reyes in the second frame of their bout.

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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