The stage was set, Abu Dhabi, Dana White’s Fight Island, UFC 253! The event was host to not one but two championship fights with some of the biggest names in the UFC. What would unfold Saturday night was nothing short of spectacular. It answered questions, sparked new and interesting matchups, and most importantly gave fans of the UFC the primetime entertainment they wanted when they bought the fights.
I don’t want to brush off the non-championship fights as they were entertaining. We saw Dawodu vs. Tukhugov go the distance with Dawodu winning and looking like the more polished fighter. Vieira vs. Eubanks would also go the distance. Vieira, who seemed to have the bigger frame really used that to her advantage on her way to a win. Royval vs. France would end through an exciting Royval armbar. But what made this main card so special were the title fights.
Reyes vs. Blachowicz
Everyone was looking forward to seeing Israel Adesanya step into the octagon, but first a light heavyweight showdown had to occur to see who would claim the vacant belt Jon Bones Jones left behind after deciding to go fight in the heavyweight division. Dominick Reyes, a man who came the closest ever to beating Jon Jones in his last fight, would be matched up against the pride of Poland Jan Blachowicz.
Coming into this fight, I really liked Reyes. To say this man gave Jon Jones “the work” last fight might be an understatement. Had it not been for a belt, Reyes could have very well have won that fight. In a championship fight of that magnitude, I do agree stripping Jones of his belt would have been bogus in such a close fight but make no mistake Dominick Reyes is a bad man. This dude pre-Jon Jones was messing up the light heavyweight division. So, when he lost to Blachowicz this past weekend, I was a little surprised. Not taking anything away from Blachowicz, he beat the shit out of Reyes. After the fight Reyes nose was a zigzag, but Reyes looked so dominant vs. Jones. I think he didn’t push the tempo enough against Blachowicz which I would have liked to see him do. He did throw the left leg a few times, but not nearly as many as he threw at Jones in that first championship fight. Instead, he played it very patiently, Blachowicz found his timing, and it was lights out. That Polish power is no joke.
UFC 253 Main Event
After such an interesting co-main event, I was worried. I love Israel Adesanya, and after watching Reyes, who I was high on, get beat I got a knot in my stomach. Paulo Costa is a juggernaut of a person, and I don’t think he has an ounce of fat on him. He was undefeated coming into this fight, and if I’m Adesanya, I’m not jumping at the prospect of getting into the octagon with this guy. To Adesanya’s credit he wiped the floor with Costa. He fought him exactly how he was supposed to, stay at a distance, chop away at his front leg, don’t get cornered where he can let his fist go. He executed the perfect game plan against his opponent, even with his opponent taunting him. Costa for some reason kept poking the bear, and it was evident by round 2 that even though he was mocking Adesanya’s kicks they were doing massive damage. Adesanya is so technical, if you give him your front leg, he will kick it until you can’t walk. And that’s exactly what he did. By round two, Costa was struggling to move, and at that point you’re just a sitting duck to the lethal striking Adesanya possesses. There’s a reason he’s the Last Style Bender, and it was on full display Saturday night at UFC 253.
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