Esther Lin, MMA Fighting Calling it the “most anticipated fight in UFC history,” the organization released its first promo for the epic clash next month between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson. The two stars will finally meet on April 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting Strawweight champion Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk went to war for five rounds on Saturday night in a fight for the ages in the UFC 248 co-main event. The back-and-forth battle ended with Zhang winning a razor-close split decision but both fighters showed the after effects of nearly 400 strikes landed between them during the 25-minute contest. In particular, Jedrzejczyk left the Octagon with a sizable hematoma swelling on her forehead while Zhang suffered several cuts as well as her nose being mashed. Neither fighter was available to appear at the post fight press conference because Zhang and Jedrzejczyk were immediately taken to a local Las Vegas hospital for precautionary reasons. The good news is neither fighter suffered any serious injuries. “Just back from the hospital,” Zhang’s manager Brian Butler wrote on Instagram. “Zhang Weili back in her room and resting. No significant injuries and in good spirits. What a night.” The same can be said for Jedrzejczyk, who was also released from the hospital after she was checked over by physicians. According to her team when speaking to MMA Fighting on Sunday, Jedrzejczyk underwent a number of tests and scans but everything came back clear before she left under her own power. While neither fighter suffered any serious injuries, it’s likely Zhang and Jedrzejczyk will both get some mandated time off from the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to a grueling fight over five rounds. The fight is already being hailed as the best of 2020 if not one of the greatest battles to ever take place inside the UFC Octagon. Ultimately, Zhang retained her title but given the attention the fight received, it seems nearly impossible that she won’t encounter Jedrzejczyk again at some point in the future.

Paulo Costa | Esther Lin, MMA Fighting The crowd at T-Mobile Arena had a harsh reception for the UFC 248 main event bout between Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero. Paulo Costa can sympathize. The middleweight contender was made available to the media following Saturday’s show in Las Vegas and he had a harsh assessment of the headlining matchup that was light on action and ended with Adesanya retaining his 185-pound title by unanimous decision. “Horrible fight, Costa said. “I was ashamed to watch that fight. Adesanya is nothing. Adesanya is the most shameful champion I have seen ever. He just run. He’s nothing. He’s nothing. He’s scared. I think he doesn’t deserve to talk about him. But it was s*it, that fight was s*it. “I will make him cry. I will hit him very badly. And he will cry like a baby. I will slap his face in my fight against him because—That’s it, he’s shameful.” Neither Adesanya nor Romero were able to mount much significant offense in the five-round contest, but Costa saved the majority of his criticism for Adesanya. Costa is familiar with Romero’s fighting style, having defeated Romero at UFC 241 by unanimous decision last August. “I don’t blame Romero,” Costa said. “Romero’s the same against everybody. He never put 100 percent of pressure. He’s a little bit lazy and sometimes he explodes. “The fact is Adesanya cannot hang with him. Adesanya cannot hang against powerful guys like Romero, like Jon Jones, or me. That’s why he’s afraid. That’s why he avoids some fights, like against me, like against Jon Jones. He avoids these kinds of fights.” Cageside for the main event, it seemed possible that Costa would have something to say in the immediate aftermath of Adesanya’s fight with Romero, and according to Costa, he was made aware that he could be asked to directly challenge the winner. Adesanya actually searched for Costa in the crowd during his post-fight speech, but Costa was nowhere to be found. So what happened? “Of course, everybody leaves from the cage,” Costa said. “But when I jump, some people catch me and bring me out. Why I need to wait for him to tell something for him? He make a very, very bad fight tonight, so I laugh about this.” “I jump because somebody told me to be ready to go inside the cage, so I jumped,” he later added. “That’s it.” Costa’s manager Wallid Ismail said it was actually security that approached Costa as he rose from his seat and escorted him out of the cageside area. Costa clarified that it was never his intention to get physical with either Adesanya or Romero. Health-permitting, it would likely have been Costa who was selected to face Adesanya at UFC 248. The 28-year-old is 13-0 as a pro and 5-0 in the UFC with wins over the likes of Romero, Uriah Hall, and Johny Hendricks. He said he is “100 percent” healthy and that he’s eying an International Fight Week showdown with Adesanya this coming July. Ironically, if Costa had been scoring the fight, it’s actually a rematch with Romero that he’d expect to see next. “I think nobody deserves to get the win,” Costa said. “But Romero put more pressure. Romero took the middle of the cage.”

Instagram: @georgesstpierre What makes professional fighters so relatable? At first glance, probably nothing. But take away the gloves, gis, and bulging hematomas, and they’re actually not so different than the rest of us. These posts prove even the toughest fighters are only human after all. Here is the latest edition of “The Weekly Grind.” View this post on Instagram Thanks Master Chip Chuipka for the acting lessons! The FORCE is growing strong in me Merci ASM Actors Studio of Montreal! A post shared by Georges St-Pierre (@georgesstpierre) on Mar 5, 2020 at 12:11pm PST View this post on Instagram I am excited to announce that Baby Raegan Ann Nunes will be here mid September! I cannot wait to meet her! I am carrying and still plan on fighter after she is born. A post shared by Nina Ansaroff Nunes (@ninaansaroff) on Mar 5, 2020 at 3:36pm PST View this post on Instagram I had exactly 10 minutes to catch my connecting flight in Denver to Kansas City, but I sprinted and made it! I have good cardio! What can I say? I RUN STAIRS!! I’m coming, Serena! #rulenumber1 #cardio #invictafc A post shared by Roxanne Modafferi (@roxyfighter) on Mar 3, 2020 at 7:16pm PST View this post on Instagram ☀️ Baby girl, you went to hell and came back with angel wings. A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) on Mar 5, 2020 at 7:03pm PST View this post on Instagram Round table meeting with some killers @dominance_mma media day 2! @mmarlonmoraes @usman84kg @khabib_nurmagomedov @henry_cejudo @ottmanazaitar @justin_gaethje @lancepalmer @islam_makhachev A post shared by Frankie Edgar (@frankieedgar) on Mar 7, 2020 at 10:47am PST View this post on Instagram Hanging out with this badass today in the UFC Perfomance Institute. @leticiabufoni is a Brazilian skateboarder that loves mma. We did some fun stuff today teaching eachother new stuff that didn’t end up very well. Trocando de esporte com a @leticiabufoni pro Esporte Espetacular. Nos divertimos ensinando uma a outra coisas novas que não terminaram muito bem. Não posso contar muito mas até a repórter @vevyrodrigues teve que andar de skate. #teamcg #skateboard #ufc #lasvegas #esporteespetacular #globo #canalcombate #ufcnocombate #leticiabufoni #everydayporrada A post shared by Claudinha Gadelha (@claudiagadelha) on Mar 7, 2020 at 3:54pm PST View this post on Instagram Date night @oj_driver A post shared by Luis Antonio Peña (@violentbobross) on Mar 7, 2020 at 1:48am PST View this post on Instagram In honor of F.B.F I’m going with one of the baddest photos I’ve been in. The Hopi Honor Riders give strength to families going through a loss. They started with showing gratitude to Lori Piestewa. Lori was the first woman Native American to pass serving America. I say this is a badass photo not because of the badass bikes but because of the bad ass people. They asked me to be part of their story this day and it’s with gratitude I can say that I am glad to have had them riding alongside #fbf #nativestrong #hopihonorriders #flashbackfriday #loripiestewa #navajonationfair #grandmarshal A post shared by N I C C O R A E (@nrmontano) on Mar 6, 2020 at 8:27pm PST View this post on Instagram I learned so much about @nascar and never really knew how technical the sport was before last weekend! Click the link in my IG bio to see full episode Eu aprendi muito sobre o @nascar e nunca soube o quão técnico o esporte era antes do fim de semana passado! Clique no link na minha biografia do IG para ver o episódio completo A post shared by ®️Cristiane Justino (@criscyborg) on Mar 5, 2020 at 12:25pm PST View this post on Instagram @realdonaldtrump sick hotel #ufc248 #lasvegas #bambam #FTA #westernsydey A post shared by Tai 'BamBam' Tuivasa | FTA (@bambamtuivasa) on Mar 7, 2020 at 5:02pm PST View this post on Instagram “Love as a mental process, I’ll propose to you, emerges from a fundamental process called ‘integration’. Integration is the linkage of differentiated parts of a system. Integration leads to harmony; impaired integration leads to chaos and/or rigidity. Love is the harmony of integration. When we honour differences and promote compassionate linkages, love emerges. Love can thus arise in various relationships that involve attachment, romance, sexuality, learning, professional pursuits, athletics and spiritual communities. A relationship is defined in this model of interpersonal neurobiology as a pattern of shared energy and information flow. When these relationships are integrated, love emerges. The embodied brain responds to integrated relationships with the activation of integrative circuits – ones that link widely separated regions to each other. For example, attachment relationships can be seen to promote the growth of integrative circuits – in the prefrontal region, the hippocampus and the corpus callosum – that co-ordinate and balance the nervous system. Therapeutic interventions that promote seeing the mind of another person – mindsight – with empathy and compassion offer integrative experiences that promote healing. Love is healing because love promotes integration.” -Helen Fisher on We Have Chemistry of Love and Integration @barrytravelfit @wherenext.travel @wherenext.retreats #bali #baliindonesia #meditation #breathe #breath #canggu #breathwork #fitness #retreat #fitnessretreat A post shared by Ian Mccall (@unclecreepymma) on Mar 6, 2020 at 9:42am PST View this post on Instagram Motivated for greatness #NewellWorldOrder A post shared by Nick Newell (@notoriousnewell) on Mar 5, 2020 at 8:27pm PST I might eat this whole box @dc_mma !! None for you though sorry pic.twitter.com/LqLLiedV66— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) March 8, 2020 View this post on Instagram Have I ever told you how much I love you? ❤️ ‍ ❤️ #daddysgirl #daddyslittlegirl #camels #oasis #oasiscameldairy A post shared by Ian Mccall (@unclecreepymma) on Mar 4, 2020 at 8:25am PST View this post on Instagram #jurassicparkforever #haveaniceevening #ufc #jurassicpark #kk #funny A post shared by Karolina Kowalkiewicz Official (@karolinakowalkiewicz) on Mar 4, 2020 at 12:00pm PST View this post on Instagram Viva Las Vegas. A post shared by Dan "Hangman" Hooker (@danhangman) on Mar 6, 2020 at 3:14pm PST View this post on Instagram Send me location @danawhite or I’m gonna smash your car #ufc249 #ufc248 A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Mar 6, 2020 at 4:20pm PST View this post on Instagram she’s so beautiful..pre @invictafc fights here in KC tonight.. A post shared by Tonya Evinger (@tonya_evinger) on Mar 6, 2020 at 4:39pm PST View this post on Instagram #snapchatfilter (Benditos filtros ) A post shared by Alexa Grasso (@alexa_grasso) on Mar 6, 2020 at 3:54pm PST View this post on Instagram Hanging out A post shared by Super Sage Northcutt (@supersagenorthcutt) on Mar 5, 2020 at 3:13pm PST View this post on Instagram Come find me A post shared by Mackenzie Dern (@mackenziedern) on Mar 5, 2020 at 11:19pm PST View this post on Instagram What do you put in your fanny pack?? A post shared by Paige VanZant (@paigevanzant) on Mar 4, 2020 at 1:37pm PST View this post on Instagram . . #love #cat #mibebe #kiss #balita A post shared by Irene Aldana (@irene.aldana) on Mar 6, 2020 at 4:46pm PST View this post on Instagram Cuffing seasons at #ufc248 A post shared by Henry Cejudo (@henry_cejudo) on Mar 6, 2020 at 7:22pm PST View this post on Instagram #ThrowBACKThursday #FightWeek #UFC247 #IPutMyBackIntoThatOne A post shared by Lauren Murphy (@laurenmurphymma) on Mar 5, 2020 at 5:42am PST View this post on Instagram Magical 6am back in the saddle riding crazy Arab horses through the desert. My mum had me riding horses growing up and my dad had me doing martial arts. Professional horse rider and fighter. Name two better skills #Dubai #Rideordie #Doitall A post shared by Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) on Mar 7, 2020 at 12:05am PST View this post on Instagram “My first time being in a fake fight was a little too real (sorry @MarkWahlberg). Check this clip out and then watch #SpenserConfidential now, only on @Netflix #ad” @brandxstunts with @jjdashnaw @papa_dash A post shared by Donald Cerrone (@cowboycerrone) on Mar 7, 2020 at 12:12pm PST View this post on Instagram #ReturnOfFatAnge #UFC248 A post shared by Angela "Overkill" Hill (@angieoverkill) on Mar 7, 2020 at 5:04am PST View this post on Instagram Boom vs sparky A post shared by Brian “BOOM” Kelleher (@brianboom135) on Mar 7, 2020 at 2:50pm PST View this post on Instagram Игровой день был game day ⚽️ ⚾️ #петрян #rcc_academy #rcc_sport #petryan #ufc #чозажелтый #строимдорогу #путьвоина #история #сделатьневозможное #россия #неотступатьинесдаваться #сибирь #омск #екатеринбург #ufc #tigermuaythai #дорога #chicago #teampetryan #бокс #мечта A post shared by Петр "No Mercy" Ян (@petr_yan) on Mar 5, 2020 at 11:02pm PST View this post on Instagram Went in to the gas station... came back out to this ❤️ #myboys A post shared by Cat Zingano (@alphacatzingano) on Mar 7, 2020 at 8:19am PST View this post on Instagram @ladymir11 had a great time in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Great seminar, amazing food, beautiful city and wonderful people. Thank you @mma0n @judobezigrad @proteini.si_slovenija @wfc.si and everyone else . . . #Ljubljana #Slovenia #Seminar #MMA #BJJ A post shared by Frank Mir (@thefrankmir) on Mar 7, 2020 at 8:19am PST View this post on Instagram I’m a day late posting this #throwbackthursday vid - so it’s now for #flashbackfriday!!! Check out the beginning stages of me and @travisbrownemma building @browsey_acres together! We’ve come a long way but we have still have so far to go - but it’s a real labor of love and we enjoy every second! Check the link in my bio to see our Browsey beginnings - and how small our chicken coop used to be! A post shared by rondarousey (@rondarousey) on Mar 6, 2020 at 7:42pm PST View this post on Instagram ❄️ ☀️ yesterday was a good day with @shandadiantonio A post shared by Holly Holm (@hollyholm) on Mar 6, 2020 at 11:25am PST View this post on Instagram IRISH PEOPLE help me out! WTF were people doing drinking in Cork airport at 6am on a Sunday???? A post shared by Ben Askren (@benaskren) on Mar 7, 2020 at 4:30pm PST View this post on Instagram Officially was able to ditch the crutches as of the beginning of this week. Still a rollercoaster but embracing the ride. ✌ #day21 #aclrecovery #THEFUTURE A post shared by Maycee "The Future" Barber (@mayceebarber) on Mar 1, 2020 at 5:01pm PST View this post on Instagram Thank you so much to @sb_belhasa showing us around @fame.park and inviting us to his home @saifpr A post shared by James gallagher (@strabanimalmma) on Mar 6, 2020 at 8:30am PST View this post on Instagram @007 Bond girl training complete ✌ ☀️ A post shared by Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) on Mar 7, 2020 at 4:22am PST

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports The thing about predicting legacy, talking trash and swaggering around the cage is that it’s all good when you’re putting on a show and all bad when the show falls flat. UFC 248 was what Israel Adesanya wanted, what he asked for. He ran straight for the middleweight division’s bogeyman, Yoel Romero, a fight that he said was selected exactly because it was the scariest thing he could do, a match that would help define his history. In retrospect, it will probably be one he skips past when he considers his career’s greatest hits. Adesanya won last night, the first title defense in what may well turn out to be a lengthy and celebrated reign, and that’s no small thing given the championship stakes. Still, it wasn’t the kind of glorious victory that has come to define his UFC tenure thus far. Stung with an overhand left in the first round, Adesanya went conservative, opting to concentrate on feints and defensive movement to keep Romero at bay while chipping away at his dangerous opponent with leg kicks from the outside. It was all strategy and little flash, only a semi-Stylebender performance. Yes, it was a perfectly valid approach and enough to earn him a unanimous decision, but it was also very much at odds with the outlook he voiced before the fight when he said, “I’m a guy that, if I see people running away from something I’m like, ‘Why you running away? What’s over there?’” It only took him a few minutes in the cage with Romero to change his tune. “It was a hard fight but — cliche — I did what I had to do,” he said. “You see he’s going to be limping after this. Look at his leg. I f—ked his leg up. He touched me in the first round, that was the hardest shot he could land on me. After that I knew I could take his best shot, so I did what I had to do. I picked him apart.” To be sure, he’s hardly the first guy to walk in the cage with a plan, feel a Romero blast and move on to option B. But when you walk to the cage flanked by two women throwing rose petals at your feet as he did last night, well, you are kind of sending a message about greatness that people expect you to meet. Or at least attempt to meet. The tone was set early, when in the first round the pair combined to land just six strikes. Adesanya struggled to get started because his traps for Romero went unmet. His frequent feints meant to draw engagement were largely ignored as the challenger waited … and waited .. and waited for sporadic and mostly ineffective moments of explosion. Both Adesanya and Romero blamed each other for the periods inaction and in truth, they did both hold some of the blame. It got bad enough that prior to the start of the fourth round, exasperated referee Dan Miragliotta implored them to get more active, saying, “You’ve gotta give the judges something to score.” By then, Adesanya had at least picked up the pace ahead of Romero, slamming his shins into Romero’s right leg enough that it had turned several shades of black and blue. It was his top target of the night, which was enough to win the judges’ scorecards but not enough to win over the fans expecting the sniper to more thoroughly and decisively engage an often-stationary 42-year-old opponent. By the end of the night, the T-Mobile Arena crowd was openly booing him, a surprising turnaround from just five months ago when Adesanya took out Robert Whittaker in front of a rabid record crowd in Melbourne, Australia. If anything, last night was about learning lessons for him. Before it, he was already fully formed, a marksman with an unblemished record and a title on his mantle. But the dynamic changes once you become champion. When all eyes are pointed in your direction, when all your colleagues want what you have — your hardware, your spotlight, your place at the head of the table — there are threats around every corner. You can’t just be what you were; you are continually asked to transform with that new burden of expectation. The good news for Adesanya is that if he needs a little image repair, he shouldn’t have to wait too long for an opportunity at it. Top contender Paulo Costa was sitting cageside last night, clearly disgusted with the lack of action he was seeing in front of him. Costa was supposed to be the man standing in front of Adesanya until an injury sidelined him, and he’s expected to be ready to go in two or three months. A young, undefeated knockout machine, Costa is a savagely aggressive fighter who seems incapable of taking a backward step. If Adesanya wants a firefight, he’ll no doubt get it. It is a crazy thought that a fighter who is now a perfect 19-0 somehow came out of a championship win with a bad night, but that’s what happened. It’s because we know what he’s done and what he’s capable of. It’s because of his bravado. He is unquestionably an excellent fighter, but when you remind the world of your own greatness from time to time, you can’t be surprised when the world reminds you that you didn’t quite reach it.