Israel Adesanya defends his middleweight championship against Yoel Romero in the main event at UFC 248.
The unbeaten champion (18-0) dethroned Robert Whittaker in October to claim the title and cap a spectacular first year-and-a-half in the UFC.
Romero, an Olympic silver medallist in freestyle wrestling, poses a threat but at 42 has long passed his peak.
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The Cuban also suffered defeat by mutual opponent Whittaker and is considered by some to be fortunate to receive another world title shot. However, he can still rely on his renowned knockout power.
Here’s everything you need to know about UFC 248.
UFC 248 takes place on Saturday 8 March at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. So that means it’s in the early hours of Sunday morning for UK fans.
UFC 248 will be shown live on BT Sport 2 for subscribers, who can also stream the event on BT Sort’s website and app. The action is not pay-per-view in the UK. Alternatively, you can follow all the action on The Independent.
The main card will begin at 3am GMT. Expect the main event fight to take place around 4.30am.
Israel Adesanya (C) vs Yoel Romero (middleweight title)
Weili Zhang (C) vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk (women’s strawweight title)
Beneil Dariush vs Drakkar Klose (lightweight)
Neil Magny vs Li Jingliang (welterweight)
Alex Oliveira vs Max Griffin (welterweight)
Sean O’Malley vs Jose Alberto Quinonez (bantamweight)
Mark Madsen vs Austin Hubbard (lightweight)
Rodolfo Vieira vs Saparbek Safarov (middleweight)
Gerald Meerschaert vs Deron Winn (middleweight)
Emily Whitmire vs Polyana Viana (women’s strawweight)
Danaa Batgerel vs Guido Cannetti (bantamweight)
If anyone has the technical abilities, athleticism and distance management to beat Romero, it’s Adesanya. He must beware Romero’s power, but his underrated wrestling skills may prove useful on the way to a decision win. Whatever happens, expect a fun fight.
