Three fights, three potential Fight of the Night contenders on the UFC 253 main card.
The UFC 253 main card (beneath the co-main event) delivered nothing but excitement. Each fight was more exciting than the last. Take a look at the highlights below.
Brandon Royval (no. 9) def. Kai Kara-France (no. 7) by submission via guillotine choke
What a fight! Royval and Kara-France dropped in the opening moments of an all-action bout that saw spinning back elbows, knees, omoplatas and more. Royval closed up shop early in round two, snatching an air-tight guillotine.
CHAOS -- These flyweights are off to a FURIOUS start!
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
[ #UFC253 - LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/NCKWIc3hsJ
The knee caught him -- The pace to this one is INSANE!
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
[ We're LIVE on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/QLKv2kFUC5 ] pic.twitter.com/EBVYwyuCS7
NEW CONTENDER ALERT --@BrandonRoyval SQUEEZES out a guillotine in RD 2.
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
[ #UFC253 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/Cf93brMWkf
Ketlen Vieira (no. 7) def. Sijara Eubanks (no. 13) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Vieira and Eubanks delivered a Fight of the Night-worthy scrap. Vieiria was clearly ahead in the first two round; however, Eubanks answered strong in round three.
1️⃣5️⃣ hard fought minutes in the books.
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
Show us those scorecards --
[ #UFC253 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/aTmRlQMEgt
Fenomeno! --@KetlenVieiraUFC returns to the win column for the first time in 2️⃣ years!
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
[ #UFC253 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/DN2H75C8fF
Hakeem Dawodu def. Zubaira Tukhugov by split decision (29-28, 27-30, 28-29)
Dawodu and Tukhugov engaged in a fun firefight until Tukhugov began back-pedalling in round three. Despite the split decision, it was arguably a star-making performance for "Mean" Hakeem thanks to his crisp combinations, trash talk and eloquent post-fight interview.
"Let's ****ing fight!"
— UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
-- @MeanHakeemKo sounded OFF to close RD 3.
[ #UFC253 #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/pjZdpTl5In
UFC 253 takes place on Saturday, September 26 from Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The pay-per-view card is headlined by UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and challenger Paulo Costa. Keep up with Fightful for all your fight night coverage.
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