UFC 253 results, highlights: Israel Adesanya picks apart Paulo Costa, retains middleweight title with TKO win

Israel adesanya and Paulo Costa spent months sharing verbal punches, but when it came time to go out in the UFC 253 octagon, the only Important punches on land hit the Middleweight champion. After making a full round of beating Costa's lead leg, Adesania finished the Challenger with punches in the second round of the main event on the battle island of Abu Dhabi.

Adesan's strategy was evident early on, when he kept his distance and took a couple of punches leading off Costa's leg, reduvayki hit the street and hit his knee. When Adesanya landed, Costa responded with taunts before attempting to cut off the cage. But Adesanya's footwork was accurate, allowing him to get away from any danger before resuming his kicking attacks.

Costa wanted to turn the situation around in the second round, trying to push a little, but Adesanya continued to avoid the exchange and started mixing blows to the head. Adesania's headbutt opened a gash above Costa's eye, and suddenly the opponent's taunts stopped as he started to look back.

When Costa finally got his wish and started to shake hands, Adesanya hit a glancing blow at the Costa temple, sending it to the canvas. Adesanya wasted no time in following the earth bone, unleashing a brutal barrage of punches and forcing the referee to stop at 3: 59 of the second round.

"I still don't like him." I don't know him personally, I don't want him to die or anything like that, he's alive, I let him be alive," Adesania said after the battle. "This is a game we play, this is violence, and I told you it would be violent, and I said it would be violent and end quickly, and that's what I did. I'm fresh, I can go next weekend, I can go anytime. I want to spend time with my family because it's been a crazy year, so I want to spend time with my people.

I told you, but everyone thinks so ... as Roy Jones said, "you should have forgotten everything" because of what happened last time. I had to remind the world who is the best."

With the win, Adesanya improved to 20-0 and sent off the man many considered their most difficult opponent in the division. As opportunities for new calls decreased after only two title defenses, Adesania said he had already notified the person who might be next about the upcoming opportunity.

"I already killed Jared gunner," Adesanya said. "He's a great guy. I like his energy. You will win, Robert Whittaker, and will be the next. If he beats Robert Whitaker, he will be next."

In a joint major event, Jan Blachowicz stunned many with his second-round finale of Dominic Reyes to claim the free crown in the light heavyweight category. Many thought Reyes could easily handle Blachowicz after the former soccer star lost a controversial decision to Jon Jones in February. But Blachowicz had other ideas, methodically processing the body before delivering several devastating blows to the face and stopping.

KBR sport was with you all night, bringing you the results and analysis of UFC 253 on battle island.