A breakdown of the fights on the main card of UFC 259 on Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas, with picks from the Review-Journal’s Adam Hill and Heidi Fang:
MMA UFC
Israel Adesanya will try to become the fifth fighter in UFC history to hold titles in multiple weight classes simultaneously when he challenges Jan Blachowicz in UFC 259 on Saturday.
The middlweight champion will attempt to become just the fourth fighter in history to hold belts in two weight classes when he challenges Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight belt at UFC 259.
UFC president Dana White said Thursday he has been in contact with venues in Texas after this week’s decision by Governor Greg Abbott to roll back restrictions.
Amanda Nunes was contemplating retirement, but decided she wanted to continue fighting after the birth of her daughter. She will defend her featherweight title at UFC 259.
The deal includes branding and an integration of live odds and betting products as well as introducing a countdown clock in the cage for the first time.
Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, two of the most popular heavyweights in UFC history, have been released by the organization.
Heavyweight contender Cyril Gane cruised to a unanimous decision over Jairzinho Rozenstruik in the main event of UFC Fight Night 186 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights and Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be allowed 15 percent capacity crowds, giving fans something to cheer for in person for the first time in almost a year.
Handicapper Lou Finocchiaro, who went 3-1 on his plays for last week’s UFC card, likes Kevin Croom, a +165 underdog, to upset Alex Caceres as one of his best bets.
Featherweight Kevin Croom, who received a performance bonus for a 31-second submission in September that was changed to a no-contest, will fight Saturday at UFC Fight Night 186.
Derrick Lewis won his fourth straight fight in the main event of UFC Fight Night 185 on Saturday in Las Vegas and tied the UFC record for most knockouts with 12.
Heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes, who meets Derrick Lewis at UFC Fight Night 185 on Saturday, is a former national champion wrestler whose style has been called boring.
Handicapper Lou Finocchiaro likes UFC veteran heavyweight Aleksei Oleinik to upset Chris Daukas on Saturday at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.
When in doubt — no matter how shameful the situation — ESPN will always protect its brand. It happened again in the case of MMA reporter Ariel Helwani.
