It was billed as one of the greatest title bouts in UFC history. It pitted two unbeaten and largely unchallenged middleweight fighters against each other.
In the end, though, it was no contest.
Israel Adesanya made short work of Paulo Costa, making a superstar turn as he knocked the unbeaten Brazilian out at 3:59 of their fight for the middleweight title in the main event of UFC 253 Saturday at Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi.
Adesanya’s kicks tore Costa apart and it started at the opening bell. Adesanya was barely touched in the fight and left Costa a mess.