The UFC marks its return to fight Island in Abu Dhabi with a stacked card in UFC 253. Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa will kick off fight Island 2.0. in a middleweight championship fight. However, the complete card is stacked with some exciting fights across all weight divisions. We look at the fights and route to victory for each fighter. 

UFC 253: Early Prelims

Khadis Ibragimov Vs Danilo Marques 

Danilo Marques and Khadis Ibragimov start off the early prelims with a light heavyweight bout. Heading into the fight, Ibragimov is on a three-fight losing streak. Marques who is making his UFC debut against Khadis is riding a two-fight winning streak. Danilo has nine wins and has finished an equal number of fights via submission and TKO/KO (four each with one decision). As per the form guide, Danilo is in a better position to win this fight.

Prediction: Danilo Marques via TKO/KO

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Juan Espino Vs Jeff Hughes 

A heavyweight bout between Jeff Hughes and Juan Espino will follow Marques and Ibragimov. Hughes made his debut with the UFC in 2018 in Dana White’s Contender Series. ‘Lights out’ impressed with a stunning KO win over Mark Smith.

Since then, however, Hughes is 0-1-2 in his last three fights. In Espino, Huges faces someone who is on a seven-fight win streak. Espino has finished 67% of his wins via submission. Though it is only his second fight in the UFC, he is likely to continue his winning streak. 

Prediction: Juan Espino by Submission. 

UFC 253: Prelims

William Knight Vs Aleksa Camur

William Knight and Aleksa Camur will kick off the prelim card at UFC 253. This fight will most likely not go the distance. Knight made his debut at Dana White’s Contender Series in the first week of September itself. An impressive TKO win saw him earn a first UFC fight. Knight has won all of his fights thus far via T/KO.

Camur too has extremely heavy hands. He is undefeated (6-0) and has won 83% of his fights via T/KO. It is extremely hard to pick a clear winner in this fight. However, given that experience is on Knight’s side, he should be able to bank on that to secure a win. 

Prediction: William Knight Via TKO/KO

Shane Young Vs Ludovit Klein

Shane Young will welcome Ludovit Klein into the UFC at UFC 253. Young is riding a two-fight win streak and will hope to keep it going. He has secured 46% of his wins via TKO/KO. His opponent, Klein, will make history on Saturday as he becomes the first Slovakian to fight in the UFC. He has won 50% of his fights via submission and is on an impressive seven-fight win streak and can easily make it eight. 

Prediction: Ludovit Klein via Submission. 

Read: Ludovit Klein set to make his UFC debut 

Diego Sanchez Vs Jake Matthews 

UFC veteran Diego Sanchez will take on Jake Matthews in a welterweight bout. Sanchez has been with the UFC since 2005 and has had some incredible performances in the octagon. He is 2-1 in his last three fights. In Matthews, he faces someone who is 2-0 in his last two fights.

‘The Celtic kid’ has secured 44% of his wins via Submission. Given his recent record, he should be able to secure a win over a veteran. 

Prediction: Jake Matthews via submission 

Brad Riddell Vs Alex da Silva 

Brad Ridell and Alex da Silva will round out the prelim card for UFC 253. Ridell is on an impressive five-fight win streak. He made his promotional debut with UFC 243 and is unbeaten in two fights. In contrast, Silva lost his debut fight in the UFC against Alexander Yakovlev last April.

He won his next fight against Rodrigo Vargas and heads to Yas Fight Island with a 1-1 UFC record. Ridell has secured 63% of his wins via T/KO and will look to do the same against Silva, who is the more experienced of the pair. 

Prediction: Alex da Silva via TKO/KO

Read: UFC 253: Israel Adesanya vs Paulo Costa- Prediction and Analysis