Adesanya v Costa, Khabib v Gaethje and the five best fights at UFC Fight Island 2 in Abu Dhabi - in pictures

UFC is back in the capital for five shows, starting with UFC 253 on Sunday morning and concluding with UFC 254

Israel Adesanya v. Paulo Costa (UFC 253, September 27): Dana White predicts this middleweight title clash will be fight of the year, and it’s not difficult to see why. Both champion and challenger are undefeated – Adesanya 19-0, Costa 13-0 – and there’s genuine animosity between them. Making his second title defence, Adesanya is one of the sport’s most technically gifted athletes, hence “The Last Stylebender” moniker, while Costa is a wrecking ball of a fighter. Perhaps crucially, Adesanya is out to prove March’s lacklustre victory against Yoel Romero was simply an aberration on an otherwise glittering CV, and what better way than dominating a guy who’s only once in 13 bouts been pushed to three rounds. Can Costa’s cardio keep up? Nevertheless, fireworks are expected. Courtesy Zuffa LLCCourtesy UFC

Dominick Reyes v. Jan Blachowicz (UFC 253, September 27): What seemed an eliminator for a shot at the light heavyweight title is now a battle for the vacant crown, following Jon Jones’ decision to move up to heavyweight. Reyes was always the obvious contender to rematch Jones since many gave him the victory when the two clashed in February – only for the judges to plump for the champ. It was Reyes’ first defeat in his 13 pro bouts; until then, he had been riding a six-fight winning streak in the UFC. The big-hitting Blachowicz, meanwhile, gets a first title shot off the back off three straight victories, a run that stands at seven wins from eight. This promises to be a bruiser. Getty Images

Brian Ortega v. Jung Chan-sung (UFC Fight Night, October 17): The old adage that good things come to those who wait certainly rings true here. Featherweights Ortega and “The Korean Zombie”, pictured, were supposed to meet in December, but the former tore his ACL and has spent the time in recovery. Since then a real enmity has brewed, culminating in Ortega’s physical altercation with a friend of Jung’s at UFC 248. Apologies were made and apparently accepted, but it is sure to frame the build-up to this. Ortega hasn’t fought since his gruesome defeat to Max Holloway in December 2018 – it snapped a six-fight win streak – while Jung is coming off a pair of first-round knockout victories. Have the duo patched up their personal differences? It’ll be intriguing to see. Getty Images

Khabib Nurmagomedov v. Justin Gaethje (UFC 254, October 25): Fight Island’s headline bout couldn’t be much bigger. Lightweight champion Nurmagomedov makes his long-awaited return to the octagon in a unification encounter against interim belt-holder Gaethje, who just happens to be a Dominance MMA stablemate, too. Unbeaten in all 28 pro fights, Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought since Abu Dhabi last September, and competes for the first time since his father died in early July. Gaethje is considered by many as the most significant threat Nurmagomedov has faced, a supreme striker who has an extensive background in wrestling. The American set up the clash by dominating Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in May. However, get past Gaethje (22-2), and Nurmagomedov’s claim to be the sport’s greatest of all-time will only strengthen. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Robert Whittaker v. Jared Cannonier (UFC 254, October 25): With Adesanya and Costa competing a month beforehand, this contest should serve as a title eliminator for the middleweight crown. It marks a quick turnaround for Whittaker, the former champion who rounded off the inaugural Fight Island in July with a narrow points victory against Darren Till. The New Zealand-born Australian, who boasts a 21-5 record, sits as the division’s No 1 challenger, while Cannonier is No 3 having not competed in almost a year. However, the dangerous and durable American has looked comfortable in his three outings since dropping down a division. Thus, he represents a sizeable roadblock on Whittaker’s path to regaining his crown – and that potential rematch with the man he relinquished it to: Adesanya. Courtesy UFC

With a second Fight Island confirmed by the UFC, we look at some of the standout bouts in what promises to be another action-packed series in Abu Dhabi.

To view the best fights, browse through the photo gallery above. To move on to the next slide, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device simply swipe.