UFC 248 takes place this weekend and the main event sees Israel Adesanya defend his middleweight championship against Yoel Romero.
Undefeated Adesanya (18-0) dethroned Robert Whittaker in the Australian’s back yard in October to cap off a faultless first year and a half in UFC for the Nigerian-born New Zealander. Meanwhile, Romero (13-4) should be past his peak at 42, but the Olympic silver medalist wrestler still moves like – and possesses the physique of – an athlete in their prime.
The Cuban previously came up short in a title fight against Whittaker, and was somewhat fortunate to be granted a shot at Adesanya due to his two-fight losing streak.
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Those defeats were both razor-thin decision losses, however, and the ‘Soldier of God’s terrifying knockout power should not be overlooked.
Here’s everything you need to know about UFC 248.
When is it?
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.
Which TV channel can I watch it on?
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.
What time will the main event start?
The main card will begin at 3am GMT. Expect the main event fight to take place around 4.30am.
Which TV channel can I watch it on?
UFC 248 will be shown live on BT Sport 2.
The action is not pay-per-view in the UK.
Conor McGregor’s fights ranked and rated
1/28 McGregor’s fights ranked and rated
2/28 L: Floyd Mayweather, TKO (10), August 2017
3/28 L: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Submission (4), October 2018
4/28 L: Artemij Sitenkov, Submission (1), June 2008
5/28 L: Joseph Duffy, Submission, November 2010
6/28 L: Nate Diaz, Submission, March 2016
7/28 W: Gary Morris, TKO (2), March 2008
8/28 W: Stephen Bailey, TKO, December 2008
9/28 W: Connor Dillon, TKO (1), October 2010
10/28 W: Hugh Brady, TKO (1), February 2011
11/28 W: Mo Taylor, TKO (1), May 2008
12/28 W: Steve O’Keefe, KO, February 2012
13/28 W: Aaron Jahnsen, TKO (1), September 2011
14/28 W: Artur Sowinski, TKO (2), June 2011
15/28 W: Dave Hill, Submission (2), June 2012
16/28 W: Mike Wood, KO (1), March 2011
17/28 W: Paddy Doherty, KO (1), April 2011
18/28 W: Ivan Buchinger, KO (1), December 2012
19/28 W: Dennis Siver, TKO (2), January 2015
20/28 W: Nate Diaz, MD, August 2016
21/28 W: Diego Brandão, TKO (1), July 2014
22/28 W: Max Holloway, UD, August 2013
23/28 W: Marcus Brimage, TKO (1), April 2013
24/28 W: Dustin Poirier, TKO (1), September 2014
25/28 W: Chad Mendes, TKO (2), July 2015
26/28 W: Eddie Alvarez, TKO (2), November 2016
27/28 W: Donald Cerrone, KO (1), January 2020
28/28 W: Jose Aldo, KO (1), December 2015
1/28 McGregor’s fights ranked and rated
2/28 L: Floyd Mayweather, TKO (10), August 2017
3/28 L: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Submission (4), October 2018
4/28 L: Artemij Sitenkov, Submission (1), June 2008
5/28 L: Joseph Duffy, Submission, November 2010
6/28 L: Nate Diaz, Submission, March 2016
7/28 W: Gary Morris, TKO (2), March 2008
8/28 W: Stephen Bailey, TKO, December 2008
9/28 W: Connor Dillon, TKO (1), October 2010
10/28 W: Hugh Brady, TKO (1), February 2011
11/28 W: Mo Taylor, TKO (1), May 2008
12/28 W: Steve O’Keefe, KO, February 2012
13/28 W: Aaron Jahnsen, TKO (1), September 2011
14/28 W: Artur Sowinski, TKO (2), June 2011
15/28 W: Dave Hill, Submission (2), June 2012
16/28 W: Mike Wood, KO (1), March 2011
17/28 W: Paddy Doherty, KO (1), April 2011
18/28 W: Ivan Buchinger, KO (1), December 2012
19/28 W: Dennis Siver, TKO (2), January 2015
20/28 W: Nate Diaz, MD, August 2016
21/28 W: Diego Brandão, TKO (1), July 2014
22/28 W: Max Holloway, UD, August 2013
23/28 W: Marcus Brimage, TKO (1), April 2013
24/28 W: Dustin Poirier, TKO (1), September 2014
25/28 W: Chad Mendes, TKO (2), July 2015
26/28 W: Eddie Alvarez, TKO (2), November 2016
27/28 W: Donald Cerrone, KO (1), January 2020
28/28 W: Jose Aldo, KO (1), December 2015
Full card
Main card
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)
Prelims
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)
Early prelims
Emily Whitmire vs Polyana Viana (women’s strawweight)
Danaa Batgerel vs Guido Cannetti (bantamweight)
Prediction
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.
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