UFC 243 result – Adesanya finishes Whittaker for middleweight title: Stream, updates, undercard results and more from Melbourne

Undefeated challenger dethroned Australian champion with a second-round knockout in the evening's main event

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UFC 243 saw Australian middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (20-5) dethroned in front of a home crowd as Israel Adesanya (18-0) remained undefeated and took the title.

Interim champion Adesanya finished the fight at 3:33 of the second round, catching Whittaker with consecutive hooks to make the Aussie's return to the ring after a 16-month absence an unsuccessful one.

In the co-main event of the evening, New Zealand's Dan Hooker defeated Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26).

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How can I watch it?

The event will be shown live on BT Sport 1, the BT Sport App and BTSport.com for subscribers.

Prediction

Both Whittaker and Adesanya are incredibly versatile and dangerous, and the odds show this one is a ‘pick ‘em’. The tall, rangy Adesanya is in the form of his life, having remarkably fought and won six times in just over a year since entering the UFC, and Whittaker’s last bout – 16 months ago – saw the Aussie take a lot of damage in his second consecutive win over middleweight monster Yoel Romero.

That said, Gastelum – despite a distinct height and reach disadvantage – was able to land regularly and heavily on Adesanya earlier this year, and should have finished ‘The Last Stylebender’.

Whittaker still has a shorter reach and height than his challenger this weekend, but not as severely as Gastelum. ‘The Reaper’ is also quicker and more well-rounded than Gastelum. Given Gastelum was able to damage ‘Stylebender’ as much as he did when the pair met, the experienced Whittaker should be able to inflict enough of an assault on his opponent to leave Marvel Stadium with his belt still around his waist.

Expect a war, though.

When is UFC 243?

The preliminary card starts at 12am (BST), followed by the main card at 3am (BST), with the main event fight expected to begin at around 5:30am.

How can I watch it?

The event will be shown live on BT Sport 1, the BT Sport App and BTSport.com for subscribers.

Full card

Robert Whittaker (c) vs. Israel Adesanya (ic) – middleweight championship

Al Iaquinta vs. Dan Hooker

Tai Tuivasa vs. Serghei Spivac

Luke Jumeau vs. Dhiego Lima

Justin Tafa vs. Yorgan De Castro

Prelims

Jake Matthews vs. Rostam Akman

Callan Potter vs. Maki Pitolo

Megan Anderson vs. Zarah Fairn Dos Santos

Brad Riddell vs. Jamie Mullarkey

Nadia Kassem vs. Ji Yeon Kim

Khalid Taha vs Bruno Silva

Key Points

• Israel Adesanya def. Robert Whittaker via KO (round 2, 3:33)
• Dan Hooker def. Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
• Sergey Spivak def. Tai Tuivasa via submission (arm-triangle - round 2, 3:14)
• Dhiego Lima def. Luke Jumeau via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Yorgan De Castro def. Justin Tafa via KO (round 1, 2:10)

[6 October 2019 05:31 · Alex Pattle]

Head kick from Adesanya is blocked, but still dizzies Whittaker.

[6 October 2019 05:32 · Alex Pattle]

Head kick for Whittaker, Adesanya shakes his head.

[6 October 2019 05:32 · Alex Pattle]

AND IT'S OVER! ADESANYA FINISHES WHITTAKER!

[6 October 2019 05:34 · Alex Pattle]

It was a close round. Whittaker started really well, but Adesanya started to find his timing, and he dropped the champion for the second time in as many rounds.

It was a right hook followed by a left hook and then a couple of strikes on the ground, and Whittaker was out out it.

Israel Adesanya is the new UFC middleweight champion of the world.

[6 October 2019 05:35 · Alex Pattle]

Israel Adesanya def. Robert Whittaker via KO (3:33 of round 2).

[6 October 2019 05:36 · Alex Pattle]

The new champion places the belt on his mother's shoulder as his family enter the Octagon.

A great performance from 'The Last Stylebender' tonight.

[6 October 2019 05:39 · Alex Pattle]

"Hats off to Adesanya," says Whittaker.

"I'm not going anywhere."

[6 October 2019 05:42 · Alex Pattle]

Whittaker drops to 20-5, while Adesanya stays undefeated, moving to 18-0.

Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum, Robert Whittaker. The new champion has collected some big names tonight. A hell of a year for the 30-year-old.

[6 October 2019 05:45 · Alex Pattle]

So Adesanya is the new middleweight champion and arguably the new face of the UFC.

Thanks for joining us, everyone, on what was a big, big night in UFC history.

That's all from us.