UFC 243 Results: Whittaker vs. Adesanya
Israel Adesanya became undisputed middleweight champion at UFC 243, knocking out Robert Whittaker in the second round at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. The event took place on October 6, 2019, local time, corresponding to October 5 in the United States. Eleven fights were completed before an announced crowd of 57,127.
View the official UFC 243 event archive on UFC.com.
Adesanya unifies the middleweight championship
Adesanya entered as interim champion after defeating Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236. Whittaker returned for the unification fight following his lengthy absence from competition. Their contest pitted Whittaker’s forward attacks against Adesanya’s range management and counter striking.
Adesanya dropped Whittaker near the end of the first round, but the bell allowed the champion to continue. In the second, another exchange produced the decisive knockdown and follow-up punches. The finish at 3:33 unified the belts and kept Adesanya unbeaten at 18–0.
Hooker wins; Spivac and De Castro finish
Dan Hooker defeated Al Iaquinta by unanimous decision in the lightweight co-main event. His distance control and striking carried him through three rounds against a former title challenger.
Serghei Spivac submitted Tai Tuivasa with an arm-triangle in round two. Yorgan De Castro knocked out Justin Tafa in the first round of their heavyweight matchup, and Dhiego Lima received a split decision over Luke Jumeau. Those results supplied both quick endings and full-distance contests before the championship headliner.
A large crowd and an amended preliminary result
The announced attendance of 57,127 set the UFC’s event attendance record at the time. Among the preliminary winners, Brad Riddell defeated Jamie Mullarkey in an energetic lightweight fight, Megan Anderson submitted Zarah Fairn, and Ji Yeon Kim stopped Nadia Kassem.
Jake Matthews and Callan Potter also won decisions. Khalid Taha initially submitted Bruno Silva, but that victory was later overturned to a no contest following Taha’s failed post-fight drug test. The amended result belongs in the historical record alongside the night’s championship change and major Australian crowd.
Complete UFC 243 results
- Israel Adesanya defeated Robert Whittaker — KO (punches), round 2, 3:33; unified middleweight title.
- Dan Hooker defeated Al Iaquinta — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
- Serghei Spivac defeated Tai Tuivasa — technical submission (arm-triangle choke), round 2, 3:14.
- Dhiego Lima defeated Luke Jumeau — split decision, round 3, 5:00.
- Yorgan De Castro defeated Justin Tafa — KO (punch), round 1, 2:10.
- Jake Matthews defeated Rostem Akman — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
- Callan Potter defeated Maki Pitolo — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
- Brad Riddell defeated Jamie Mullarkey — unanimous decision, round 3, 5:00.
- Megan Anderson defeated Zarah Fairn — submission (triangle choke), round 1, 3:57.
- Ji Yeon Kim defeated Nadia Kassem — TKO (body punches), round 2, 4:59; catchweight.
- Khalid Taha vs. Bruno Silva — no contest; original Taha submission at round 3, 3:00 overturned.
Sources
UFC 243 results and reports; Event results record.
Article Tags
UFC, UFC 243, Mixed Martial Arts
