Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is returning to “Sin City” this weekend to feature UFC 248 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, as undefeated UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya puts his 185-pound crown on the line against top contender Yoel Romero in the main event. In addition, UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang defends her title for the first time in a co-headliner against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Before the two tantalizing title fights play out, a slew of main card and “Prelims” bouts will set the T-Mobile Arena on fire. Whether it’s Sean O’Malley, Mark Madsen, Drakkar Klose, or Rodolfo Vieira, UFC 248’s underbelly features some of the most promising prospects in the sport today.
We’re compiling the best highlights below — with all video footage courtesy of UFC and ESPN — and will continue to share the action as UFC 248 comes to a close. Enjoy!
Danaa Batgerel def. Guido Cannetti via first-round KO
ONE PUNCH POWER!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Danaa Batgerel kicking off #UFC248 in STYLE!
Watch LIVE on @UFCFightPass NOW! pic.twitter.com/pRHAEhrmaQ
Start learning the name!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Danaa Batgerel picking up his first Octagon victory! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/mRW4fl8uip
Giga Chikadze def. Jamall Emmers via SD
Right on the horn!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Round 2 shaping up to be a good one... #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/j5iYeOLS0Q
Closing strong!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Chikadze and Emmers go the full 15 – who took it for you? #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/hSVmVoACiB
Gerald Meerschaert def. Deron Winn via third-round RNC
Winn showing some HANDS. @DeronWinn #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/TRZin0T6dU
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Meerschaert has a CHIN, folks. #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/Kaytf2s5bY
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
WOW! It ain't over till it's over! @The_Real_GM3 with a HUGE R3 to sink in the RNC for the victory! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/AHfPC402Of
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Rodolfo Vieira def. Saparbek Safarov via first-round arm triangle choke
We're starting off HOT!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Vieira and Safarov going back and forth early! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/1u2b5LQPyU
There's the tap!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Rodolfo Vieira getting it done in ONE. #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/o2hqnTdRo6
Mark Madsen def. Austin Hubbard via UD
AIRBORNE.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
@MarkTheOlympian giving out air miles for free! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/kEgbfNJYMh
THAT KNEE. @AustinHubb155 giving new meaning to the word THUD! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/u5X3J9Z1mU
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Sean O’Malley def. Jose Quinonez
The Suga Show wasn't canceled, it was just between seasons. Welcome back @SugaSeanMMA.
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 8, 2020
Stream #UFC248 on ESPN+ ➡️ https://t.co/bgI1Songf8 pic.twitter.com/V0F0Oc3NCO
THE BROMANCE IS BACK.@SugaSeanMMA and @JoeRogan reunited and it's feels so good! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/Or0G1ym9XW
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
2️⃣ years out. 1️⃣ round back.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
The Sugar Show is sweeter than ever.@SugaSeanMMA #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/I5BgXkgFF8
Alex Oliveira def. Max Griffin via SD
VIBES.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
️ @BruceBuffer #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/kaPlRjBe4D
Oliveira can hit you from ANYWHERE. #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/y9QMJk6qWI
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Two welterweight warriors!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Oliveira and @MaxPainGriffin putting on a true slugfest! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/VBEvJS7yK0
Neil Magny vs. Li Jingliang
Leech finding the mark but Magny rallies! @NeilMagny @UFCJingliang #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/i6cHfviFsy
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
MAGNY POURING IT ON. @NeilMagny is RELENTLESS! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/1tdbwmnrxN
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Beneil Dariush def. Drakkar Klose via second-round KO
Talk about a Klose call! ☎️
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
@BeneilDariush dialling it in early! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/eAbb8ceEnG
HOLY SMOKES! @BeneilDariush turns the LIGHTS OUT! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/Ct9WzuNi7K
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
@JoeRogan @DC_MMA #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/u4b5Xjp2RR
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Weili Zhang def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via SD
Taking aim at the strawweight throne.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
@JoannaMMA is ready for her chance to reclaim the crown!
Get the E+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/FkOvUfk8As #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/ZAYovbHvay
Here to defend her throne! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/Vpi1OaD3jM
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) March 8, 2020
And here. We. GO!! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/BokA2UOfwz
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) March 8, 2020
Stiff shot lands after the bell #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/HJTXu40LpR
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 8, 2020
The champion teeing off! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/Al6ZsMBSqr
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
THIS KICK!
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 8, 2020
Stream #UFC248 on ESPN+ ➡️ https://t.co/WPvP7mFN8C pic.twitter.com/U0Umlh1Pdf
STRAP IN. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS.#UFC248 pic.twitter.com/WGWERTWUQr
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
WARRIORS.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Weili and Joanna putting it all on the line for the right to be called champion! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/uav5jTjn4B
Arguably the GREATEST fight in women's mixed martial arts history!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Only ONE can be champion. SCORECARDS BELOW. ⬇️ #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/Gjl0SR8aUZ
Israel Adesanya def. Yoel Romero via UD
⏰ The time has arrived.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
@YoelRomeroMMA gets his shot at championship glory!
Get the E+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/FkOvUfk8As #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/J1WnznPUhi
@Stylebender making the walk like only he can.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Get the E+ PPV ➡️ https://t.co/FkOvUfk8As #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/wtxWe0bWod
FIREWORKS.
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
@Stylebender vs. @YoelRomeroMMA#UFC248 pic.twitter.com/SeAABaV6Ai
Not quite how we expected this #UFC248 main event to start... pic.twitter.com/Vg14uwBdKl
— ESPN (@espn) March 8, 2020
Romero stringing shots together! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/pnDU9d8SYJ
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) March 8, 2020
romero wyd? #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/IHZcIU6QLX
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
"You gotta give the judges something to score."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 8, 2020
Referee Dan Miragliotta spoke to Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero before the start of the fourth round. #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/GO2hVo5NJG
@BorrachinhaMMA offers up his two cents from Octagon side. #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/mFvWQvK6V8
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
⏰ 25 minutes in the books!
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Scorecards incoming, how'd you see it? #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/i2vhab7BLx
For complete UFC 248 results and coverage click here.