The middleweight title clash headlines a loaded UFC 263.
The UFC comes back with another marquee event on Saturday as UFC 263 takes place from Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz.
From top to bottom, this is perhaps the most loaded UFC show of 2021 as the main event features Israel Adesanya defending the middleweight title against Marvin Vettori in a highly anticipated rematch. The co-main event is another rematch as Deiveson Figueiredo puts the flyweight championship on the line when he meets Brandon Moreno.
Also on the card is the much-talked-about return of one of combat sports' biggest stars, Nate Diaz, as he battles Leon Edwards in a five-round welterweight affair.
Adesanya and Vettori squared off in April 2018 with the former winning a narrow split decision in a fight that could have gone either way. Since then, Adesanya's won eight consecutive fights at 185 pounds, including his last two being title defenses over Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa. "The Last Style Bender" tried his luck at 205 pounds in his last time out against champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259. He came up short in his bid to become a dual champion, losing via unanimous decision. Now back at his weight class, Adesanya is prepared to do to Vettori what he didn't do when they met over three years ago.
"I'm gonna finish the job," Adesanya predicted in an interview on Saturday. "Last time you had hope because one dumb judge gave you that f—ing fight when everyone else knows that you lost that fight. This time I'm going to make sure. You're going to look at me and gonna realize it's over. This is it. You can't beat me."
After losing to Adesanya, Vettori went on a tear, winning five consecutive fights to earn a crack at UFC gold for the first time. Like his opponent, Vettori plans on leaving no doubt this time around.
"I'm going to settle the score once and for all, and I'm going to show the world who's the best middleweight around," Vettori said in the same interview.
Figueiredo and Moreno met at UFC 255 and went to a majority draw in what ended up being one of the best fights of 2021. The complexion of the back-and-forth changed when Figueiredo was deducted a point in the third round for too many low blows.
Diaz returns to the Octagon for the first time since losing to Jorge Masvidal in the BMF title fight at UFC 244 in November 2019. Edwards returned from a 20-month layoff in March against Belal Muhammad. The Englishman had things in control when he accidentally eye poked Muhammad at the beginning of the second round. Muhammad was unable to continue, and the bout was declared a no-contest. Now, Edwards gets an opportunity to face one of the premier names in combat sports.
UFC 263 is a can't-miss show, primarily because of the top three fights on the docket.
UFC 260 FIGHT DATE, START TIME
UFC 263 TV CHANNEL, LIVE STREAM
More details about how to watch in other countries can be found at UFC.com.
WHERE IS UFC 263?
The card will be held at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. This will be the third UFC event in the United States since UFC 248 in March 2020 that a full capacity will be inside a facility. UFC 261 was the first event that allowed 100 percent attendance. Adesanya and Vettori compete at the venue for the second time, with their first fight taking there.
UFC 263 FIGHT ODDS
Bet MGM (as of Monday, June 7) has installed Adesanya as a sizable favorite at -250 to win the rematch. Placing a bet on Adesanya means you'd need to bet $250 to win $100. Meanwhile, Vettori is a +200 underdog to capture the championship. If you bet $100 on Vettori, you'd net $200.