GLENDALE, Ariz. — UFC 263 headliner Israel Adesanya defends his middleweight title against Marvin Vettori in the main event of Saturday’s stacked card. Adesanya defeated Vettori by split decision in 2018, a close fight that was one of Adesanya’s most difficult en route to the title. Vettori firmly believes he won that bout — and he’s looking to eliminate all doubt with UFC gold on the line.
Adesanya, who will be vying for his third successfull title defense, is ranked No. 3 on ESPN’s pound-for-pound list, and he’s No. 1 at middleweight while Vettori is No. 6 in the division.
Vettori (17-4-1) has won five in a row. The Italy native has not lost since that bout with Adesanya in April 2018. He is attempting to become the first Italian-born fighter to win a UFC title.
In the co-main event, Deiveson Figueiredo defends his flyweight title in a rematch against Brandon Moreno. The two fought to a majority draw at UFC 256 last December in what was one of the best fights of 2020. Figueiredo (20-1-1), 33, and Moreno (18-5-2), 27, are each unbeaten in six straight. If Moreno wins, he’ll be the first Mexican-born fighter to capture UFC gold.
Also on the card, Leon Edwards takes on fan favorite Nate Diaz in a five-round, non-title bout, which could be a welterweight title eliminator. Edwards (18-3, 1 NC), a Jamaican-born England native, is unbeaten in nine straight fights. Diaz (20-12), fighting out of Stockton, California, has not fought since a loss to Jorge Masvidal for the mythical BMF title at UFC 244 in November 2019. He’s looking for his first win since August 2019.
In addition, welterweight veteran Demian Maia meets Belal Muhammad, light heavyweight prospect Jamahal Hill takes on the crafty Paul Craig and Lauren Murphy faces Joanne Calderwood in a potential women’s flyweight title eliminator.
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Fight in progress:
Heavyweight: Carlos Felipe (10-1, 2-1 UFC, -175) vs. Jake Collier (12-5, 4-4 UFC, +150)
Still to come:
Middleweight title fight: Israel Adesanya (c) (20-1, 9-1 UFC, -260) vs. Marvin Vettori (17-4-1, 8-2-1 UFC, +210)
Flyweight title fight: Deiveson Figueiredo (c) (20-1-1, 9-1-1 UFC, -220) vs. Brandon Moreno (18-5-2, 6-2-2 UFC, +180)
Welterweight (five rounds): Leon Edwards (18-3, 10-2 UFC, -550) vs. Nate Diaz (21-12, 15-10 UFC, +400)
Welterweight: Demian Maia (28-10, 20-9 UFC, +180) vs. Belal Muhammad (28-3 1 NC, 9-3 1 NC UFC, -220)
Light heavyweight: Paul Craig (14-4-1, 6-4-1 UFC, +240) vs. Jamahal Hill (8-0 1NC, 2-0 1 NC,-300)
Lightweight: Drew Dober (23-10 1 NC, 9-6 1 NC UFC, -150) vs. Brad Riddell (9-1, 3-0 UFC, +125)
Light heavyweight: Eryk Anders (13-5 1 NC, 5-5 1 NC UFC, -150) vs. Darren Stewart (12-6 2 NC, 5-5 2 NC UFC, +125)
Women’s flyweight: Lauren Murphy (14-4, 6-4 UFC, +120) vs. Joanne Calderwood (15-5, 7-5 UFC, -140)
Men’s featherweight: Movsar Evloev (14-0, 4-0 UFC, -240) vs. Hakeem Dawodu (12-1-1, 5-1 UFC, +200)
Women’s bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (15-5, 3-2 UFC, -200) vs. Alexis Davis (20-10, 7-5 UFC, +170)
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney (10-3, 0-0 UFC, +200) vs. Matt Frevola (8-2-1, 2-2-1 UFC, -240)
Men’s featherweight: Chase Hooper (10-1-1, 2-1 UFC, +100) vs. Steven Peterson (18-9, 2-3 UFC, -120)
Lightweight: Fares Ziam (11-3, 1-1 UFC, -135) vs. Luigi Vendramini (9-1, 1-1 UFC, +115)
(c) = defending champion