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UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya will defend his title against Brazil's Paulo Costa in a clash of undefeated fighters at UFC 253 tonight on ESPN+. UFC 253 will stream exclusively via ESPN+ with the main card starting at 10 p.m. ET and early prelims beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Adesanya established himself as one of UFC's most dominant champions in 2019, defeating UFC legends Anderson Silva and Robert Whittaker to claim the belt. Costa has a reputation as one of UFC's most powerful fighters, earning knockouts in 11 of his 13 career matches. Positive tests for performance enhancing substances derailed Costa's UFC career in 2018 but his unbeaten record and knockout prowess make him one of UFC's most highly regarded fighters.
UFC 253 is the first in a series of five new events planned for UFC's Fight Island campus on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The league held a previous series of events on the island back in July. The new UFC Fight Island matches will include multiple UFC Fight Night events with high profile fighters, like Holly Holm, Marlon Moraes, and Chan Sung Jung a.k.a. "The Korean Zombie."
Fans will not be in attendance for UFC 253 or any of the other events due to the coronavirus pandemic. UFC has implemented at least 18 different safety precautions for staff, including advanced medical screenings, temperature checks, and social distancing guidelines.
Updated on 9/26/2020 by Steven Cohen: We've revised the language of this article to remind readers that UFC 253 will be streamed tonight on ESPN+.
ESPN
UFC 253 is separated into three portions: the early prelims, the prelims, and the main card. The early prelims are only available to UFC Fight Pass subscribers, while the prelims will air on ESPN+ and the ESPN cable channel. The main card, meanwhile, is an ESPN+ exclusive pay-per-view event.
This means that you have to subscribe to the ESPN+ streaming service before you're able to purchase the PPV fight. An ESPN+ membership costs $5.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The UFC 253 PPV event costs $64.99 for ESPN+ subscribers.
You can access the ESPN+ app on all major mobile and connected TV devices, including Amazon Fire, Apple, Android, Chromecast, PS4, Xbox One, Roku, Samsung Smart TVs, and more.
If you plan on signing up for ESPN+ to watch UFC 253, you can take advantage of a special discounted package.
New subscribers can purchase a year-long ESPN+ membership with access to UFC 253 included for a total of $84.98. That's over 25% off the standard price. Following your first year of service, ESPN+ will then renew for the regular annual price of $49.99.
