Israel Adesanya retains title, defeats Marvin Vettori in rematch at UFC 263 | CBC Sports activities

Adesanya gained 50-45 on all three judges’ scorecards within the third full-capacity UFC occasion with out coronavirus-related restrictions.

Adesanya misplaced to gentle heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in his final struggle whereas making an attempt so as to add a second title belt, however stays undefeated as a middleweight.

Within the co-main occasion, flyweight Brandon Moreno (19-5-2) grew to become the primary Mexican-born champion in UFC historical past, utilizing a rear bare choke within the third spherical in a rematch in opposition to Deiveson Figueiredo (20-2-1).

The 2 title fights within the desert had been tainted with unhealthy blood.

Adesanya and Vettori fought in Glendale three years in the past, a split-decision win by Adesanya that left neither fighter glad.

Vettori believed he gained, Adesanya thought it was too shut and the buildup to the rematch was contentious, together with an off-the-rails information convention Thursday.

Vettori (17-4-1), as he did within the first struggle, had some success on the bottom within the rematch after a few takedowns. Adesanya wriggled free and was efficient along with his toes, carrying out the Italian’s entrance leg whereas dodging most of his large punches.

Adesanya snaked out of one other takedown and continued to work over Vettori along with his toes to defend his title.

Different outcomes

Figueiredo and Moreno fought in December, a draw that saved the title belt in Figueiredo’s nook and denied Moreno’s bid to turn into the UFC’s first Mexican-born champion.

Like Adesanya and Vettori, the 2 flyweights verbally jabbed at one another within the struggle’s lead-up, the extraordinary Figueirdo doing his greatest to get underneath the pores and skin of the happy-go-lucky Moreno.

Moreno, the No. 1 flyweight contender, went after the Brazilian from the beginning within the rematch, beautiful him with an enormous shot within the first spherical. He reversed a takedown within the second spherical and compelled Figueiredo to submit with a choke 2 1/2 minutes into the third, sending roars echoing off the rafters.

Figueiredo put the unhealthy blood apart after the struggle, hugging then choosing up the emotional Moreno to the delight of the gang.

Charismatic welterweight Nate Diaz — he lit up a joint on the pre-fight information convention — returned to the octagon after a virtually two-year absence and was an enormous crowd favourite, but an enormous underdog by the oddsmakers in opposition to third-ranked Leon Edwards.

The 36-year-old from Stockton, California, nonetheless had loads of struggle — and showmanship — left in him, wobbling Edwards with an enormous left within the fifth to carry the gang off their toes.

The Englishman managed to evade Diaz (21-13) over the ultimate minute and gained by unanimous choice, placing himself in place for a doable title shot in opposition to Kamaru Usman. Diaz, who faces an unsure future, invited everybody within the enviornment to his home for a celebration after the struggle.

Mild heavyweight Paul Craig opened the primary card by breaking Jamahal Hill’s arm within the first spherical, successful on a TKO when Hill could not defend himself whereas being pummeled to the top.

Welterweight Belal Muhmmad adopted with a unanimous choice over Demian Maia.

Canadian outcomes

Unbeaten Russian Movsar Evloev used a string of takedowns to defeat Calgary featherweight (Imply) Hakeem Dawodu on the undercard of UFC 263 Saturday night time.

Whereas Evloev dominated the primary two rounds, Dawodu rallied within the third with some punishing strikes. Nevertheless it was too little too late for the Canadian, who noticed his five-fight UFC win streak snapped.

All three judges scored it 29-27 for Evloev, awarding the Russian a 10-8 edge within the second spherical.

Evloev, a former M-1 bantamweight champion, gained his fifth straight within the UFC.

“He is an efficient fighter. 5-fight win streak, Muay Thai striker, throws very onerous punches, very onerous kicks,” Evloev mentioned. “I used to be prepared for this. We educated rather a lot for 3 months.”

Additionally on the undercard, Swedish bantamweight Pannie (Banzai) Kianzad gained her fourth straight with a unanimous (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) choice over veteran Canadian Alexis Davis in a back-and-forth bout.

Evloev held a slim 42-39 edge in important strikes, in response to UFC Stats. However he landed 9 of 13 takedown makes an attempt, controlling the Canadian on the bottom.

Each fighters scored with some early strikes. The Russian related with an enormous overhand proper early whereas Dawodu managed to mark up Evloev’s left eye.

Executing a visit, Evloev acquired Dawodu to the bottom however solely briefly. Dawodu acquired again to his toes, solely to be slammed again down seconds later as Evloev caught to his again like a limpet.

Evloev scored an early takedown within the second spherical. Dawodu acquired up, solely to go down once more. Evloev, along with his legs wrapped round Dawodu, appeared to do injury and sink in a submission.

Dawodu managed to remain on his toes for a lot of the third, connecting with strikes. Evloev wobbled after one trade, waving to the gang afterwards as if the injury had been minimal. However Dawodu promptly wobbled him once more with a blow.

Evloev responded with yet one more takedown to outlive Dawodu’s rally. Dawodu had a 31-17 edge in important strikes within the third.

Kianzad (15-5-0) had success together with her hanging early on in opposition to Davis, whose face quickly confirmed injury. Davis saved coming ahead, absorbing blows to ship pictures of her personal.

Davis’ nook advised their fighter to take Kianzad down within the third spherical and “be violent.” However the struggle remained on the toes with Davis circling Kianzad. Each scored with punches.

“She kicks fairly onerous,” Kianzad mentioned after the struggle. “I hit her with a few proper arms, I believed that was it, however no, it was not it. She was actually robust, however I felt sharp.”

Davis has misplaced 4 of her final 5 fights and is 7-6-0 within the UFC.

The 36-year-old Davis, a local of Port Colborne, Ont. who now makes her dwelling in San Jose, was coming off a dominant choice win over Sabina (Colombian Queen) Mazo in February, following a 19-month layoff as a consequence of shoulder surgical procedure.

The Canadian had her first professional struggle in 2007, competing in Strikeforce and Invicta FC earlier than shifting to the UFC in 2013. She fought for the bantamweight at UFC 175 in July 2014, dropping by KO to (Rowdy) Ronda Rousey in 16 seconds.

Kianzad, a 29-year-old born in Iran, is ranked eleventh amongst UFC bantamweights. She misplaced her first two UFC outings.