Ultimate Fighting Calendar
MiddleweightTITLE FIGHTPerformance of the Night5 rounds scheduled
WIN
Israel Adesanya
The Last Stylebender
24-6-0
RESULT

Israel Adesanya def. Paulo Costa (TKO)

TKO · Round 2 · 3:59
Paulo Costa
The Eraser
16-4-0
Saturday, September 26, 2020
UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Israel Adesanya defeated Paulo Costa by TKO in round 2 (3:59) in the Middleweight title main event of UFC 253: Adesanya vs Costa, held Saturday, September 26, 2020 at UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.

Fight stats

Israel Adesanya
Paulo Costa
1
Knockdowns
0
55 of 84
Significant strikes
12 of 26
65%
Sig. strike accuracy
46%
55 of 84
Total strikes
12 of 26
0 of 0
Takedowns
0 of 0
-
Takedown accuracy
-
0
Submission attempts
0
0
Reversals
0
0:09
Control time
0:01
Significant strikes by target
24 of 51
Head
2 of 13
5 of 6
Body
7 of 8
26 of 27
Leg
3 of 5
45 of 71
Distance
12 of 26
2 of 3
Clinch
0 of 0
8 of 10
Ground
0 of 0

By round

ROUND 1
0
KD
0
22 of 37
Sig. str.
7 of 11
22 of 37
Total str.
7 of 11
0 of 0
Takedowns
0 of 0
0
Sub. att
0
0:00
Ctrl
0:01
ROUND 2
1
KD
0
33 of 47
Sig. str.
5 of 15
33 of 47
Total str.
5 of 15
0 of 0
Takedowns
0 of 0
0
Sub. att
0
0:09
Ctrl
0:00

Betting Odds

Israel Adesanya
-197
66% implied win probability
Open: -163Best: -185
Paulo Costa
+159
39% implied win probability
Open: +131Best: +247

Average moneyline across 9 sportsbooks.

Line Movement

Israel AdesanyaPaulo Costa
40%50%60%70%Jul 19Aug 11Sep 3Sep 27Jul 19, 6:35 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -150 (60%)Jul 21, 1:35 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -141 (59%)Jul 21, 3:15 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -147 (60%)Jul 21, 3:45 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -150 (60%)Jul 21, 5:54 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -154 (61%)Jul 21, 7:35 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -159 (61%)Jul 21, 7:50 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -159 (61%)Jul 21, 8:15 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -156 (61%)Jul 21, 9:36 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -159 (61%)Jul 22, 5:37 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -160 (62%)Jul 22, 1:35 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -161 (62%)Jul 23, 11:40 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -162 (62%)Jul 23, 5:10 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -163 (62%)Jul 26, 9:17 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -167 (63%)Jul 26, 5:40 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -170 (63%)Jul 30, 6:00 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -170 (63%)Aug 2, 4:00 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -169 (63%)Aug 4, 11:10 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -170 (63%)Aug 5, 2:02 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -167 (63%)Aug 7, 9:40 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -171 (63%)Aug 9, 5:50 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -167 (63%)Aug 10, 7:15 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -166 (62%)Aug 16, 5:18 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -165 (62%)Aug 17, 2:05 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -166 (62%)Aug 17, 8:35 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -168 (63%)Aug 21, 3:03 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -170 (63%)Aug 25, 3:57 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -166 (62%)Aug 27, 3:52 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -164 (62%)Aug 29, 4:33 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -165 (62%)Aug 29, 8:42 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -164 (62%)Sep 1, 11:49 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -167 (63%)Sep 3, 1:07 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -169 (63%)Sep 4, 7:36 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -166 (62%)Sep 6, 9:00 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -169 (63%)Sep 7, 2:22 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -165 (62%)Sep 7, 9:41 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -165 (62%)Sep 10, 11:00 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -164 (62%)Sep 12, 6:40 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -164 (62%)Sep 15, 7:11 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -166 (62%)Sep 18, 6:40 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -167 (63%)Sep 19, 4:37 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -166 (62%)Sep 20, 5:51 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -167 (63%)Sep 20, 3:19 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -169 (63%)Sep 20, 10:50 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -174 (64%)Sep 20, 11:51 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -174 (64%)Sep 21, 4:51 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -177 (64%)Sep 21, 6:11 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -176 (64%)Sep 21, 6:41 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -178 (64%)Sep 21, 1:01 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -178 (64%)Sep 21, 7:10 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -180 (64%)Sep 21, 9:20 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -180 (64%)Sep 22, 4:40 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -179 (64%)Sep 23, 2:50 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -180 (64%)Sep 23, 5:42 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -183 (65%)Sep 23, 8:35 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -180 (64%)Sep 24, 2:14 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -181 (64%)Sep 24, 12:35 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -182 (65%)Sep 24, 9:36 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -183 (65%)Sep 25, 12:21 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -187 (65%)Sep 26, 2:25 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -189 (65%)Sep 26, 4:08 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -190 (66%)Sep 26, 2:00 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -187 (65%)Sep 26, 4:29 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -185 (65%)Sep 26, 7:33 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -185 (65%)Sep 26, 8:33 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -188 (65%)Sep 26, 9:57 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -188 (65%)Sep 26, 11:27 PM UTC · Israel Adesanya -189 (65%)Sep 27, 1:22 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -192 (66%)Sep 27, 2:08 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -190 (66%)Sep 27, 3:33 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -190 (66%)Sep 27, 4:03 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -194 (66%)Sep 27, 4:31 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -194 (66%)Sep 27, 4:40 AM UTC · Israel Adesanya -197 (66%)Jul 19, 6:35 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +130 (43%)Jul 21, 1:35 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +116 (46%)Jul 21, 3:15 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +125 (44%)Jul 21, 3:45 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +127 (44%)Jul 21, 5:54 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +128 (44%)Jul 21, 7:35 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +131 (43%)Jul 21, 7:50 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +133 (43%)Jul 21, 8:15 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +132 (43%)Jul 21, 9:36 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Jul 22, 5:37 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +135 (43%)Jul 22, 1:35 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Jul 23, 11:40 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +135 (43%)Jul 23, 5:10 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +135 (43%)Jul 26, 9:17 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +139 (42%)Jul 26, 5:40 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +140 (42%)Jul 30, 6:00 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +139 (42%)Aug 2, 4:00 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +140 (42%)Aug 4, 11:10 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +138 (42%)Aug 5, 2:02 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +138 (42%)Aug 7, 9:40 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Aug 9, 5:50 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +132 (43%)Aug 10, 7:15 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +131 (43%)Aug 16, 5:18 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +130 (43%)Aug 17, 2:05 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +130 (43%)Aug 17, 8:35 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +133 (43%)Aug 21, 3:03 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +135 (43%)Aug 25, 3:57 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Aug 27, 3:52 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +132 (43%)Aug 29, 4:33 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +132 (43%)Aug 29, 8:42 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +132 (43%)Sep 1, 11:49 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Sep 3, 1:07 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +136 (42%)Sep 4, 7:36 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Sep 6, 9:00 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Sep 7, 2:22 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +131 (43%)Sep 7, 9:41 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +132 (43%)Sep 10, 11:00 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +130 (43%)Sep 12, 6:40 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +131 (43%)Sep 15, 7:11 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +132 (43%)Sep 18, 6:40 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +133 (43%)Sep 19, 4:37 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +133 (43%)Sep 20, 5:51 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +134 (43%)Sep 20, 3:19 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +136 (42%)Sep 20, 10:50 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +139 (42%)Sep 20, 11:51 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +139 (42%)Sep 21, 4:51 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +140 (42%)Sep 21, 6:11 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +141 (41%)Sep 21, 6:41 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +141 (41%)Sep 21, 1:01 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +142 (41%)Sep 21, 7:10 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +144 (41%)Sep 21, 9:20 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +144 (41%)Sep 22, 4:40 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +142 (41%)Sep 23, 2:50 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +144 (41%)Sep 23, 5:42 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +147 (40%)Sep 23, 8:35 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +145 (41%)Sep 24, 2:14 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +145 (41%)Sep 24, 12:35 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +145 (41%)Sep 24, 9:36 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +145 (41%)Sep 25, 12:21 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +149 (40%)Sep 26, 2:25 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +150 (40%)Sep 26, 4:08 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +150 (40%)Sep 26, 2:00 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +150 (40%)Sep 26, 4:29 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +149 (40%)Sep 26, 7:33 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +150 (40%)Sep 26, 8:33 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +150 (40%)Sep 26, 9:57 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +152 (40%)Sep 26, 11:27 PM UTC · Paulo Costa +153 (40%)Sep 27, 1:22 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +154 (39%)Sep 27, 2:08 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +151 (40%)Sep 27, 3:33 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +153 (40%)Sep 27, 4:03 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +157 (39%)Sep 27, 4:31 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +158 (39%)Sep 27, 4:40 AM UTC · Paulo Costa +159 (39%)-197+159
SportsbookIsrael AdesanyaPaulo Costa
BetOnline-193+168
Bookmaker-195+164
Bovada-200+160
Cloudbet-400+247
MyBookie-210+170
Pinnacle-187+159
sportsbetio-222+150
sports-interaction-185+140
unibet-200+160

Odds are for information only. · Odds data: fightodds.io

Frequently asked questions

Who won Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa?

Israel Adesanya defeated Paulo Costa by TKO in round 2 (3:59) in the Middleweight title main event of UFC 253: Adesanya vs Costa, held Saturday, September 26, 2020 at UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.

Referee
Jason Herzog
Time format
5 Rnd (5-5-5-5-5)
Pre-fight comparison

Win probability

Israel Adesanya 64%36% Paulo Costa

What the model gave each fighter going into the fight, from their pre-fight UFCalendar Power Index ratings. See the full Power Index

Fight DNA

Head to head

UFCalendar's style model. Each fighter is rated against their own division, so read the gaps as directional.

Israel Adesanya
Striking Technician
7 edges
Paulo Costa
Complete Fighter
4 edges
PowerSpeedPrecisionDurabilityEngineWrestlingGround

Radar scaled to this matchup · bars show the gap

Style shape

95Power94
97Speed94
95Precision93
93Durability95
96Engine92
86Wrestling89
88Ground89

Biggest edge Israel Adesanya, Cardio +4

Attribute by attribute

Israel Adesanya is on the left of every row, Paulo Costa on the right.
94Punch power93
95Kick power94
96Punch speed94
97Kick speed94
95Accuracy93
86Takedowns89
90Ground striking93
85Submissions84
92Chin95
94Body strength95
96Cardio92

Attributes are rated 0-100 by UFCalendar's style model.

Tale of the Tape

24-6-0
Record
16-4-0
1973
Power Index rating
1872
0
Win Streak
2
37
Age
35
6'4"
193 cm
Height
6'1"
185 cm
80"
203 cm
Reach
72"
183 cm
Switch
Stance
Orthodox
Middleweight
Weight Class
Middleweight
Nigeria / New Zealand
Nationality
Brazil

Striking Profile

4.03
SLpM
6.15
48%
Str. Acc.
59%
3.22
SApM
5.96
55%
Str. Def.
49%

Grappling Profile

0.05
TD Avg.
0.30
9%
TD Acc.
42%
76%
TD Def.
77%
0.10
Sub. Avg.
0.00

Recent form (last 5 fights)

Israel Adesanya · 1-4
  • L
    UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Pyfer · Mar 28, 2026
    TKO · R2 · 4:18 · Middleweight
  • L
    UFC Saudi Arabia: Adesanya vs Imavov · Feb 1, 2025
    TKO · R2 · 0:30 · Middleweight
  • L
    UFC 305: Du Plessis vs Adesanya · Aug 17, 2024
    Submission · R4 · 3:38 · Middleweight
  • L
    UFC 293: Adesanya vs Strickland · Sep 9, 2023
    Unanimous Decision · R5 · 5:00 · Middleweight
  • W
    UFC 287: Pereira vs Adesanya 2 · Apr 8, 2023
    TKO · R2 · 4:21 · Middleweight
Paulo Costa · 3-2
  • W
    UFC 327: Procházka vs Ulberg · Apr 11, 2026
    TKO · R3 · 1:23 · Light Heavyweight
  • W
    UFC 318: Holloway vs Poirier 3 · Jul 19, 2025
    Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
  • L
    UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier · Jun 1, 2024
    Split Decision · R5 · 5:00 · Middleweight
  • L
    UFC 298: Volkanovski vs Topuria · Feb 17, 2024
    Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight
  • W
    UFC 278: Usman vs Edwards 2 · Aug 20, 2022
    Unanimous Decision · R3 · 5:00 · Middleweight

Career Averages

Based on 19 fights · 12 fights
69.1
Avg sig. strikes
77.8
0.05
Avg takedowns
0.25
0:32
Avg control time
0:42
119
Career high strikes
163
1
Career high TDs
2

Strike Distribution

Israel Adesanya
Strike target
Paulo Costa
49%
Head
45%
21%
Body
41%
30%
Leg
14%
Israel Adesanya
Strike position
Paulo Costa
92%
Distance
88%
5%
Clinch
5%
3%
Ground
6%