Two title fights led to two impressive performances at UFC 253 on Saturday night.
In the main event on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, unbeaten middleweight champion Israel Adesanya used a load of leg kicks and precision strikes to hand Paulo Costa his first loss.
With Costa’s lead leg badly bruised, Adesanya dropped the hulking challenger with a left hook, then finished him with ground-and-pound with 1 minute, 1 second left in Round 2. It was a convincing victory for Adesanya (20-0), whose previous defense, against Yoel Romero, was considered by many to be a snoozer.
In the co-main event, Jan Blachowicz used his power to put away Dominick Reyes and claim the vacant light heavyweight title.
Blachowicz worked over the ribs of Reyes in the first two rounds, then captured the belt by flooring Reyes with a left and following up with several more punches. The fight was stopped with just 24 seconds left in the second round.
Here were the reactions from UFC fighters on Twitter:
A master class from the middleweight KING ?! ?#UFC253
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) September 27, 2020
I still want to see Izzy vs Bones
— “Young Superstar” (@Benaskren) September 27, 2020
@stylebender is on another level!!!! This dude made it look easy. Congratulations king!!!! pic.twitter.com/gHK39Ytw01
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 27, 2020
Wow! Not even close man! What a performance from Adesanya! This man will be champ for a LONG time, as long as Father Time allows it! #UFC253
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 27, 2020
Wow the guy is different @stylebender is different breed! #ufc253 congrats champ
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 27, 2020
Made it look easy. Amazing @stylebender
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) September 27, 2020
Hell yeah!!!! Beast @stylebender #UFC253
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) September 27, 2020
Perfect game plan by Israel
— Randa Markos (@randamma) September 27, 2020
Adesanya proved a lot of people wrong with a performance like that. He’s a beast! #UFC253
— TJ Laramie (@laramietj) September 27, 2020
Goodnight by Stylebender #UFC253
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) September 27, 2020
Blachowicz wowed many in the co-main event, including Dwayne Johnson.
Wow! Blachowicz called it – 2nd round KO. Helluva win, congrats champ! Reyes will be back even stronger. #andnew #UFC253
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) September 27, 2020
Blachowicz called out Jon Jones, the former light heavyweight champ who is moving up to heavyweight.
Booo
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 27, 2020
Jan enjoy my friend, congratulations ??
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 27, 2020
#ANDNEW @JanBlachowicz Ladies and Gentlemen ? we love ya champ ?? #UFC253
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) September 27, 2020
Congrats @JanBlachowicz Now let me work on getting your or my wish fulfilled! #ufc253
— Thiago Marreta (@TMarretaMMA) September 27, 2020
Freaking Polish power! Did what Jon Jones couldn’t wow ? congrats! @JanBlachowicz
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 27, 2020
All hail the king!! @janblachowicz is the new ufc champion. My goodness pic.twitter.com/56K4BgCe1h
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) September 27, 2020
Wow!! Even @JanBlachowicz touches look like they hurt. #UFC253
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) September 27, 2020
Congratulations @JanBlachowicz…enjoy that bay, my friend.
— Anthony Smith (@lionheartasmith) September 27, 2020
Woooww that polish power came through #UFC253
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) September 27, 2020
Poland here is your new King! Jan Blachowicz! UFC Champion!! #UFC253
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 27, 2020
Told ya guys polish power is real
— Chito Vera (@chitoveraUFC) September 27, 2020
Beast! Congrats Poland
— Randa Markos (@randamma) September 27, 2020
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