ABU DHABI – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC 253 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results.

The event takes place at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

In the main event, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) puts his title on the line against fellow unbeaten Paulo Costa (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC). In the co-main event, the light heavyweight title vacated by Jon Jones is up for grabs when Jan Blachowicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC) takes on recent title challenger Dominick Reyes (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who suffered a close loss to Jones earlier this year.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 7 p.m. ET for the ESPN2/ESPN+ early prelims, 8 p.m. ET for additional prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+, and 10 p.m. for the main card on pay-per-view.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC 253 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporter John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

Khadis Ibragimov vs. Danilo Marques

Round 1 – Marques kicks off UFC 253 pumping his jab. Immediately, Marques shoots for a takedown. Ibragimov threatens a guillotine choke. The two fighters crash to the canvas but Marques keeps his grip. Back on the feet, Marques is shoving Ibragimov against the cage. Ibragimov grabs a fistful of the cage as Marques tries to drag him to the ground. As a result, Ibragimov ends up on top. Marques slips through his legs and the two fighters are back on the feet. Ibragimov lands a combination. Marques thuds a hard outside kick to Ibragimov’s left lead leg. Ibragimov pushes forward with a combination. Marques is backed up but circles away. Marques is bleeding from the bridge of his nose. Marques shoots for a takedown and the two are against the fence again. Referee Jason Herzog warns Ibragimov not to grab the fence. Marques sweeps Ibragimov’s leg out from under him. The fighters hit the canvas and Marques shifts to Ibragimov’s back. Ibragimov is on his hands and feet, wearing Marques like a backpack. Marques is working a rear-naked choke. With 10 seconds left, Ibragimov tries to dump Marques off the back. The two fighters hit the canvas. Marques tries to adjust his grip but runs out of time. 10-9 Marques.

Round 2 – Ibragimov throws a big punch and misses. He appeared to tweak his shoulder in the process. He’s flexing it but continues fighting. Marques connects on another outside lead leg kick. Marques keeps touching his nose. The damage is bothering him. Both men looked slowed in tempo – and we’re not even halfway through the fight. Minimal strikes are being thrown this round. Ibragimov lets his hands go and misses on every strike. Marques grabs a single leg and dumps Ibragimov to the mat. In the backpack position once again, Marques is working for a rear-naked choke. Ibragimov tries shaking Marques off, but ends up falling to the mat. The fight has reached a stalemate. Marques has his hands wrapped up high on Ibragimov but hasn’t been able to do much of anything. Ibragimov can’t get Marques off. Ibragimov scrambles and Marques rolls with him. The round ends. 20-18 Marques.

Round 3 – Marques lands an outside leg kick and Ibragimov counters with a punch. Marques shoots for a takedown puts Ibragimov grabs the cage – again. Marques falls to the mat and gets back up. Referee Herzog warns Marques again. I’m surprised he didn’t take a point. Those have all been pretty blatant – and effective. Ibragimov looks up at the clock. Both fighters connect – in particular Ibragimov, who landed his best strike of the fight. Ibragimov threatens a guillotine. Marques spins out of it. Ibragimov grabs the cage – again. And – again – Referee Herzog doesn’t take a point. Moments later, Marques gets another takedown. As Marques moves to mount, Ibragimov reverses position. Marques stands up. Ibragimov threatens a guillotine choke but gets taken down again. Marques gets on Ibragimov’s back again and is working for another rear-naked choke. The final horn sounds. MMA Junkie scores it 29-28 Marques. Not exactly a hot start to the evening.

Result: Danilo Marques def. Khadis Ibragimov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Records: Khadis Ibragimov (8-4 MMA, 0-4 UFC), Danilo Marques (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Jason Herzog
Judging:

Juan Espino vs. Jeff Hughes

Round 1 – Referee Kevin Sataki signals the start of the fight and Juan Espino is officially back in his first fight in 22 months. Let’s see if he has any rust. Espino starts off with a lot of movement. Hughes taking short steps forward. Espino moving backward. Espino hurls an overhand right which misses. Espino throws another righthand and tries a takedown. Hughes moves away. Espino shoots again and gets Hughes halfway down. Hughes tries to keep his balance and scoot up the cage but Espino drags him down. Espino lands in side control about 90 seconds into the bout. Espino lands a series of short shots but it allows Hughes to scramble to his feet against the fence. Espino drags him back down to the mat, however. Hughes gets up again but Espino still has his grip. Espino dumps Hughes to the canvas again. He lands some short punches but Hughes gets up. Espino dumps him over backward and works to mount. Espino is leaning on Hughes, who rolls over and slips out the back. Espino scrambles back into mount and is trying a scarfhold choke. He gets it. Wow. That was lighting-fast. Espino by first-round submission.

Result: Juan Espino def. Jeff Hughes via submission (arm-triangle) – Round 1, 3:48
Recap:
Records: Juan Espino (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Jeff Hughes (10-4 MMA, 0-3 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass
Referee: Kevin Sataki

Aleksa Camur vs. William Knight

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Records: Aleksa Camur (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), William Knight (8-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:
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Ludovit Klein vs. Shane Young

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Records: Ludovit Klein (16-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Shane Young (13-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee:
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Jake Matthews vs. Diego Sanchez

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Records: Jake Matthews (16-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC), Diego Sanchez (30-12 MMA, 19-12 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
Referee:
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Alex da Silva vs. Brad Riddell

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Records: Alex da Silva (21-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Brad Riddell (8-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2/ESPN+
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Hakeem Dawodu vs. Zubaira Tukhugov

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Records: Hakeem Dawodu (11-1-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Zubaira Tukhugov (19-4-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC)
Division: Featherweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
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Sijara Eubanks vs. Ketlen Vieira

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Records: Sijara Eubanks (6-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Ketlen Vieira (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s bantamweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
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Kai Kara-France vs. Brandon Royval

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Records: Kai Kara-France (21-8 MMA, 4-1 UFC), Brandon Royval (11-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Flyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
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Jan Blachowicz vs. Dominick Reyes

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Records: Jan Blachowicz (26-8 MMA, 9-5 UFC), Dominick Reyes (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
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Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa

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Records: Israel Adesanya (19-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), Paulo Costa (13-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
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