UFC 253 live updates, results, highlights from Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa fight & full card

A star-making championship clash between undefeated middleweights Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa gives Saturday night’s UFC 253 event its punch, but there are other high-profile battles on the main card as well.

Dominick Reyes takes on Jan Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight title, and top-10 flyweight competitors Kai Kara-France and Brandon Royval will tangle as they try to improve their places in the pecking order of the weight class.

Ketlen Vieira vs. Sijara Eubanks and Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov are the other main-card fights.

UFC 253 is being hosted on “Fight Island” in the United Arab Emirates.

Sporting News is tracking round-by-round results for UFC 253 and will provide highlights, commentary and more. Follow along below.

MORE: Save over 25% when you buy UFC 253 and an ESPN+ Annual Plan for only $84.98

UFC 253 live updates, highlights from Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa

8 p.m.: Welcome everyone to UFC 253 action! The early prelims just finished up with a Juan Espino submission victory. William Knight vs. Aleksa Camur is up next.

UFC 253 results

Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Paulo Costa for Adesanya’s middleweight title

Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Błachowicz for vacant light heavyweight title

Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Royval; flyweights 

Ketlen Vieira vs. Sijara Eubanks; women’s bantamweights 

Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov; featherweights 

Brad Riddell vs. Alex Da Silva; lightweights 

Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Matthews; welterweights 

Shane Young vs. Ľudovít Klein; featherweights 

William Knight vs. Aleksa Camur; light heavyweights 

Juan Espino def. Jeff Hughes by submission

Danilo Marques def. Khadis Ibragimov by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

What time does UFC 253 start?

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 26
• Early prelims: 7 p.m. ET
• Prelims: 8 p.m. ET
• Main card: 10 p.m. ET
• Live stream: ESPN+

UFC 253 takes place Saturday, Sept. 26. Early prelims get underway at 7 p.m. ET, followed by prelims at 8 p.m. ET and the main card pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET.

UFC 253 fight card

Main card

• Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Paulo Costa for Adesanya’s middleweight title
• Dominick Reyes vs. Jan Błachowicz for vacant light heavyweight title
• Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Royval; flyweights 
• Ketlen Vieira vs. Sijara Eubanks; women’s bantamweights 
• Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov; featherweights 

Preliminary card

• Brad Riddell vs. Alex Da Silva; lightweights 
• Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Matthews; welterweights 
• Shane Young vs. Ľudovít Klein; featherweights 
• William Knight vs. Aleksa Camur; light heavyweights 
• Juan Espino vs. Jeff Hughes; heavyweights 
• Khadis Ibragimov vs. Danilo Marques; light heavyweights