Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero full fight video highlights

Watch Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero full fight video highlights from UFC 248’s main event above, courtesy of the UFC.

UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero took place March 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (19-0) and Yoel Romero (13-5) battled in a middleweight contest, which aired live on ESPN+ pay-per-view. Catch more video highlights below.

For more on Adesanya vs. Romero, check out our live blog by MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew below.

Round 1: Dan Miragliotta is the third man in the cage for this middleweight title fight. Romero comes and and literally stands still in full defensive mode. Adesanya is moving around trying to get a read but it’s impossible as Romero is literally not doing anything. Adesanya throows out a few test strikes that Romeroo steps away from. Now Rmoero is moving some but no offense yet. Two minutes in and nothing has happened but the fight is still very tense. A leg kick is the first strike from Romero. Adesanya has not landed anything of note nearly three minutes in. Now Adesanya steps n with a right hand and a high kick that is blocked. Adesanya steps in and eats a monster counter left hook that snaps his head back and backs Adesanya off for a second. Adesanya lands a leg kick and is once again reconsidering how to attack in on Romero. Not much action but seems like a good strategic round for Romero. Jumping round kick to the body lands for Romeroo. Adesanya lands a leg kick. Nothing of note happens before the horn. A calculated first round that has the fans on edge.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 Romero.

Round 2: Adesanya comes out with a front kick to the body and clearly seems like he’s more interested in initiating a fight this round. Romero lands a huge counter left hook that gets Adesanya backing up again. Twice now Adesanya has tried to step in and twice he’s been punished for it. Romero blocks a high kick and Adesanya is back to the outside and trying to find a way in. Good head kick from Adesanya gets Romero moving. Low leg kick from Adesanya and he may now start looking to work his range kicking game. This is certainly a different kind of fight than the co-main event. Not a lot of relevant action but a lot of feints and tense moments. Romero swarms forward and lands a couple fo big left hands has Adesanya gets backed into the cage. Adesanya goes for a high kick again that gets blocked. Adesanya’s lack of volume is going to be a detriment. Best shot of the fight lands for Adesanya with a kick to the body. Adesanya lands a question mark kick that is fun. Again, a tight one to score. Romero landed the bigger shots but Adesanya’s volume is more than the first. Romero goes for a jumping high kick that misses and Adesanya lands a quick jab as the round ends.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 Romero (20-18 Romero overall).

Round 3: Romero’s money round is now upon us and Adesanya has sweling on his face. Romero comes out to start the third with much more aggression and Adesanya seems to feel better about that. But immediately Romero goes back to his waiting strategy, Adesanya throws a head kick, Romero ducks under it and lands a counter left hand. Romero lands a good counter left to the body on a failed Adesanya attack. Adesanya goes full Matrix dodge on a big right hand from Romero. Adesanya lands a leg kick and Romero answers in kind. It’s a festival of feints. Romero charges in with a left hand and slips as Adesanya steps away. Big body kick from Romero. Big body kick from Adesanya. Adesanya is now moving more and lands a big body kick. Romero with a leg kick and the pace is picking up. Sneaky front kick to the face lands from Adesanya. Romero corrals Adesanya against the fence but steps away. Adesanya working a jab now and this is his best round. Adesanya. glances a head kick off Romero’s head to little effect. The horn sounds without third-round Romero making an appearance.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 Adesanya (29-28 Romero overall).

Round 4: Theoretically, the championship rounds should favor Adesanya but given the low pace, both fighters seem very fresh. Dan Miragliotta gives both fighters a talking to before the round, telling them to pick up their offense. That was dumb but whatever. Romero is now moving forward more and lands a good body kick. Adesanya is working the jab. Adesanya now pressuring but he’s having a very tough time figuring Romero out. Romero now on the march with a lot of feints and blocks. Adesanya landing leg kicks at range but an eye poke from Adesanya causes a break in the action. After a couple of minutes, the fight resumes and Romero gets a takedown but Adesanya stands up and now Adesanya is trying to get going. Romero is now jumping in the middle of the cage. This fight is weird but kind of fun. Adesanya just not giving Romero anything to counter off of though. Romero steps in but Adesanya slips the left. And the same sequence. More kicks from Adesanya. Romero now coming forward but is unable to track Adesanya down. a strong leg kick from Adesanya buckles Romero for a moment. Roemro shoots again but Adesanya defends and Romero lands a pair of good punches in the scramble. Romero ducks under a question mark kick which is absolutely insane and the round ends.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 Adesanya (38-38 overall).

Round 5: Both men are fresh for the final round of the fight. More of the same to start with Adesanya jabbing and moving. Good leg kick from Adesanya and Romero’s leg is showing the effects. Adesanya blocks the big left from Romero but Romero charges in and lands a big left, his first good shot in some time. Adesanya is throwing more volume but not landing anything. Romero goes for a takedown and Adesanya staves it off. Romero lands a big left that has Adesanya backing up. Fight is still up for grabs with two minutes left. Good body kick from Romero. And a jab? Didn’t know Yoel knew how to jab. Big left hand from Romero and he catches a kick and nearly takes Adesanya down who literally sprints away. Romero lands another left hand. Romero feints a takedown but can’t land a punch off it. Adesanya throws a head kick that gets blocked. Adesanya is avoiding exchanging at all costs and Romero is now getting frustrated. Leg kick from Adesanya. big left hand from Adesanya in an exchange. Romero charges in ducks under a capoeira kick, taunts Adesanya and lands a left to end the fight. Weird, tough fight to score.

MMAFighting scores the round 10-9 Romero, 48-47 Romero overall.

Official decision: Israel Adesanya defeats Yoel Romero by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46).