Five reasons to watch UFC 243, with Brazilian and middleweight belt unification on the card

R. Whittaker (left) and I. Adesanya (right) pose with belts. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube TheMacLife

Ultimate went to the other side of the world to bring the public a spectacle full of good fights. This Saturday (5), the UFC 243 and MMA enthusiasts will be able to watch, in addition to a title fight, 10 fights between athletes trying to conquer the best places within their categories.

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In the main fight of the night, the 'owner of the house', Robert whittaker (lineal champion), tries to regain his position as the absolute champion in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg.), which was once dominated by Anderson Silva. To fulfill his commitment, the athlete must beat one of the biggest revelations of today, Israel adesanya, owner of the interim division title.

Before the protagonists step into the Octagon, two Brazilian athletes will be responsible for representing the Tupiniquim flag in Australia. Dhiego Lima, in a good phase, is trying to win his third consecutive victory in the company, while Bruno Bulldoguinho makes his dream UFC debut.

In total, 22 fighters are scheduled to exchange forces in this weekend's show.

The event will start at 20pm (Brasília time, with the preliminary card. The main card is scheduled to start at 23pm (Brasília time).

To get in the mood, our team selected five reasons to follow the UFC 243.

1) Unification of the middleweight title

Image of the new UFC belt. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc

The middleweight division, today, is one of the categories with the most talent within Ultimate. The category, which was once reigned by Anderson Silva, in recent years it has passed through four different hands since it stopped appearing on the Brazilian's waist in 2013.

Recently, after a series of injuries to the champion Robert whittaker, the Ultimate board decided to create an interim belt. The fight for the belt was fought between the challengers Kelvin Gastelum e Israel adesanya, who fought a real battle with the intention of deciding who would own the title.

Israel emerged victorious in the unanimous decision of the judges after the UFC 236, in April. It was then up to the Nigerian to compete against the lineal champion and former absolute champion, Whittaker, to decide who will be number one in the division.

2) Adesanya, promise or reality?

I. Adesanya in victory for Ultimate. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook UFC

In addition to having the possibility of becoming master of the middleweight throne in Ultimate, Israel will have another difficult task ahead. Although he exudes confidence both in his fights and in interviews, the Nigerian will once again put his unbeaten record at stake.

Israel started in MMA in March 2012, competing in a duel against James Greffiths. On that occasion, the athlete already showed his talent and knocked out his opponent in the first round of combat. Seven years later, the Nigerian has already competed in 16 more clashes, winning in all of them.

Adesanya has a peculiar way of presenting himself for duels. Confessed fan of Anderson Silva, the athlete, at times, even confuses the public with such similarity in the strategy used to try to get into the minds of his opponents.

This weekend's duel will pit Israel against an athlete known for the intensity of his fights. One of the dangers that the Nigerian may face is the fact that he has had six fights in the last 18 months and runs the risk of appearing worn out in front of the Australian public.

3) The return of the champion

R. Whittaker wins his second victory over Y. Romero in less than a year. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter UFCBrasil

One of the fears that has haunted Robert Whittkaer's career in recent times is the constant series of injuries which prevent the linear champion from playing more regularly within the sport. As a fighter, Robert is practically unquestionable.

The fighter, who debuted at middleweight in 2014, has never been defeated since choosing to move to the new category. Among the welterweights (up to 77kg.), Whittaker, who debuted in Ultimate in 2012, suffered a series of two consecutive defeats (2013 and 2014). However, after gaining weight, the Australian no longer knew what it was like to lose.

Three years after debuting in the top division, Robert had his chance to fight for the belt. The title came in the victory over the Cuban Yoel romero, but, before arriving in the dispute, the fighter had to pass through quarries, such as Ronaldo Jacare, at the time, at a great stage in his career.

This weekend, Whittaker puts on his Ultimate gloves again after more than a year away from the Octagon. The athlete, who fought his last fight in June last year, should have returned in February, against Kelvin Gastelum, but had to be removed from the card at the last minute after suffering problems with a hernia.

If he returns in great shape, the fighter has a great chance of becoming the undisputed number one in the division again. However, it is necessary to evaluate the conditions in which the athlete will perform. There is a possibility that the fighter will feel the lack of rhythm or abstract the absence of last year perfectly.

4) Dhiego Lima and his good phase in the UFC

D. Lima is ready for the UFC 243. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc

If there is an athlete who will enter this Saturday's card lighter, this athlete is Dhiego Lima. The fighter, who had a difficult start since debuting in Ultimate, in addition to arriving in Australia with two consecutive victories under his belt, had his contract renewed with the organization.

Lima debuted for the company in July 2017 and ended up not having the debut of her dreams. In combat against Jesse Taylor. Against the North American, the Goiano player ended up submitting in the second round in a fight that represented one of the fights in the finals of TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) 25. In his second appearance, the athlete was chosen to face the former challenger for the middleweight title Yushin Okami, and lost in a unanimous decision by the judges.

After the defeats were over, Dhiego had the obligation to win in his next commitments to avoid the risk of dismissal. The Brazilian, then, managed to achieve two triumphs and arrives with morale to face Luke Jameau, an Australian who is also coming off a victory in the company.

5) Brazilian debut

B. Bulldoguinho (right) makes his debut in UFC 243. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @brunobulldogufc

One fighter in particular will experience one of the most important nights of his life. With 13 fights and 10 wins on his professional resume, the Piracicaba native, who was hired after working for the WWF (World Fighting Federation') will make his UFC debut.

The Brazilian arrives at Ultimate as one of the hopes for the bantamweight category (up to 61,2kg), which is currently dominated by 'Triplo C', Henry Cejudo. Bulldoguinho, 29 years old, will exchange forces against Khalid Taha, an athlete who has two fights for the organization.

Bruno and Taha will be responsible for opening the event and providing first impressions of this weekend's show.

UFC 243 technical sheet

DAY: October 05, 2019

HORA: From 20pm (Brasília time)

LOCAL: Etihad Stadium

HOW TO WATCH: SUPER FIGHTS the first two fights LIVE and the entire event in real time and Combate Channel

MAIN CARD (23 p.m. Brasília time)

Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Robert whittaker x Israel adesanya – fight for the unification of the belt

Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): To the fifth x Dan Hooker

Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Tai tuivasa x Sergey Spivak

Welterweight (up to 77kg): Luke Jumeau x Dhiego Lima

Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): justin tafa x Yorgan DeCastro

PRELIMINARY CARD (20 p.m. Brasília time)

Welterweight (up to 77kg): Jake matthews x Rostem Akman

Welterweight (up to 77kg): Callan Potter x Maki Pitolo

Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Jamie Mullarkey x Brad Riddell

Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): Megan anderson x Zarah Fairn dos Santos

Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Nadia Kassem x Ji Yeon Kim

Bantam weight (up to 62,7kg): Khalid Taha x Bruno Bulldoguinho

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