MELBOURNE, Australia – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC 243 event, and you can join us for live play-by-play and official results beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET (3:45 p.m. PT).

The event takes place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

In the main event, middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) takes on interim champ Israel Adesanya (17-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a title unification fight. In the co-feature, Dan Hooker (18-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) Al Iaquinta (14-5-1 MMA, 9-4 UFC) at lightweight.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 6:45 p.m. ET for the UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+ prelims, 8 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN2, and 10 p.m. ET for the main card on pay-per-view.

To discuss the show, be sure to check out our UFC 243 discussion thread. You can also get behind-the-scenes coverage and other event notes from on-site reporters John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) and Ken Hathaway (@kenshathaway) on Twitter.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

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Current fight

Luke Jumeau vs. Dhiego Lima

Round 1 – Jumeau flat-footed in the center. Lima circling right. He reaches with a long jab that misses. Lima swing to the center and holds his hands high before kicking the leg. Another leg kick scores. Jumeau very patient right now. Lima again attacks the leg, and Jumeau just misses with a counter up top. Lima much more active with his movement. Jumeau happy to stay stationary. Lima kicks the leg again. Jumeau answers with his own. Lima with a left to the body, and he winces from a Jumeau eye poke from his outstretched hand. Brief stop for the doctor to come take a look, but we carry on. Low kick from Lima. Another, and he blocks the counter punches that come in reply. Leg kicks traded. Lima still the busier man. Jumeau trying to set up his counter, but Lima moving well. Leaping right from Jumeau to close. MMA Junkie gives the first to Lima, 10-9.

Round 2 – Jumeau trying to press a little to start, but Lima moves well and slips the attack. Lima low kicks sees Jumeau fall to the floor. He pops right back up, but that leg may be compromised. Jumeau winces on another low kick. He goes to the floor. Lima follows and lands a few punches before moving back to the feet. Jumeau right hand blocked. Lima catches a low kick and throws Jumeau off-balance but can’t get him to the floor. Still, he presses his opponent to the fence. They work in the clinch. Jumeau eventually able to pull free and back to the center. Low kick from Lima and a left over the top. Jumeau’s left leg is bruised badly. Lima misses a low kick. Jumeau has some stability issues on the left leg. He’s switching stances and trying not to expose it. Jumeau reaches with a punch and briefly stuns Lima. Quick moment though, because Lima is able to pull away and then wrap things up and take the fight to the floor. Jumeau battles his way back to the feet just before the bell. Still, MMA Junkie gives it to Lima, 10-9.

Round 3 – Jumeau with a quick start. Lima defends the rush. Jumeau not really able to chase quickly with the injured leg. Jumeau digs with a big left to the body. Lima whiffs on a low kick. He’s shifting laterally on the outside. Jumeau has a big right blocked. Lima lands a crisp right. They trade punches in the pocket. Jumeau still throwing very hard, but Lima defending well. Lima changes levels and wants the takedown. Jumeau defends well against the fence, and Lima has to back away and reset. Two minutes left. Lima covering on the outside. Jumeau moves in and misses, and Lima tags him with a counter. Lima content to counter, it seems. Jumeau pressing, but he’s only having moderate success. One minute left, and Lima shoots. Jumeau defends it well, and Lima has to back away. They trade until the end, but Jumeau just can’t really get through. MMA Junkie gives the final round to Lima, 10-9, and awards him the fight 30-27.

Result:
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Luke Jumeau (13-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Dhiego Lima (14-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging:

Results

Bruno Silva vs. Khalid Taha

Round 1 – Silva switches stances early as they set up in the center. Taha kicks at the legs. Silva very mobile to start. They both fire off big shots, but a Taha left hand lands clean and sends Silva to the floor. He pops right back to the feet, and they work briefly in the clinch before moving back to the center. Silva’s right eye already showing the damage from Taha’s power. Kicks traded to the body. Punches traded, as well. Silva with a nice kick to the body. He lands an overhand right, as well. Taha misses on a kick, but he follows with a clean right hand that scores. Silva kicks to the body, but it lands to the cup, and we get a brief pause. Silva whiffs on a big kick on the restart. He misses on a takedown, as well. Still, Silva pushes forward and is able to wrap the body. Silva with a knee in the clinch, and it lands directly to the groin again. Taha grimaces and falls to the floor. Taha takes a moment, but we carry on. Taha runs out on the restart, but Silva slips away. Big punches traded. Silva wraps the body, and we finish in the clinch. MMA Junkie gives the first to Taha, 10-9.

Round 2 – Silva out quickly and looking to strike. Taha right sends the action to the canvas, and then he just misses what would have been an illegal kick to the head of a seated opponent. Silva pops back up, and he’s retreating as Taha looks to attack. Silva survives the storm, and he changes levels, working hard to bring the fight to the floor. Taha gets to guard. Silva postures and punches hard to the body. Taha just misses an upkick. A second does land. Taha trying to scramble, but Silva adjusts and stays on top. Half-guard for Taha. Silva wants to strike, but he’s focused on keeping his position, as well. Taha back to full guard. Short punches and elbows landing from the top. Silva postures again, but Taha answers with dangerous upkicks. Less than a minute, and Taha turns to his knees. Silva controls the head. Choke isn’t there, but he’s keeping the action on the canvas. Silva steps over the right leg and tries to slip to the back. Taha turns to defend, and the round ends there. MMA Junkie gives it to Silva, 10-9.

Round 3 – Silva misses a big spinning kick to open. Taha kicks to the leg, but Silva grabs it and instantly takes the fight to the floor. Taha knows he can’t stay there and alertly gets immediately back to his feet. Silva with the underhook on the left side and pressing the action to the cage. Silva working hard for the takedown. Taha counters by grabbing the neck and then snaps the action down to the canvas, but Silva works almost immediately back to his feet. He wants a takedown, but it’s not there. Silva slips away, but he looks exhausted. He shoots from range, but Taha sprawls well and starts punching the head. He slips around to the back and wants the choke. Not there, but he traps the arm and spins. Arm triangle is there. Taha slips off to the side and starts the squeeze. It’s there, and Silva has to tap.

Result: Khalid Taha def. Bruno Silva via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 3:00
Photos: Khalid Taha vs. Bruno Silva photos
Records: Bruno Silva (11-4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Khalid Taha (14-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Division: Bantamweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+
Referee: Greg Klenjans

Nadia Kassem vs. Ji Yeon Kim

Round 1 – Kassem rushes forward looking to strike, but she walks into a straight punch and hits the deck. She pops back up, but Kim fires more punches. Kassem in trouble early. She has to scamper away and reset. She moves back in to engage and gets to the clinch, where she’s able to toss the action to the canvas. Slick move there, and she takes top position and lans a few big pinches. Kim tries to control the wrists, and Kassem backs away. Kim scrambles up, as well, and we start trading on the feet. Kim the more accurate striker, and she’s landing clean. Kassem already looks a little tired halfway into the first. Still, she’s game to scrap. Kim controlling the center. She’s measured in her approach, and she’s accurate when she strike. Kassem moving well on the outside, but she’s struggling to really get a rhythm. She grabs a Thai clinch, but she can’t control the action there. Round ends on the feet, and MMA Junkie gives to Kim, 10-9.

Round 2 – Kassem kicks the leg, but Kim with a perfect counter over the top. Kim walking forward, and Kassem looking to retreat and counter. She lands a nice kick to the body, but Kim returns fire with rapid punches over the top. Kassem kicking to all levels, but Kim unaffected and continues to punch. She’s stalking from the center. Jab lands clean. Right hand scores. Kassem lands a kick to the body and takes. deep breath. She is findign success with the kicks, but the punches are a problem. Kim starts to flurry, and time is called during the middle to replace Kassem’s mouthpiece. Questionable decision there. On the restart, Kim begins again. Kassem trying to swing back, but she’s outgunned. Kassem slips away and tries to reset. She’s using the kicks to keep space, but Kim pushing through and looking to finish this fight. Punches continues to land clean. Big left scores. Kassem covering on the fence in the final minute. Kim looking to end it. Blood pouring from the nose. Body shot lands clean and drops Kassem just before the bell, and this fight is over just before the bell.

Result: Ji Yeon Kim def. Nadia Kassem via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:59
Photos: Ji Yeon Kim vs. Nadia Kassem photos
Records: Nadia Kassem (5-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Ji Yeon Kim (9-2-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyweight
Broadcast: UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+
Referee: Jim Perdios

Megan Anderson vs. Zarah Fairn

Round 1 – Quick start for Fairn, as she rushes forward to strike. Anderson a bit overwhelmed to open but grabs the clinch to slow things down. She tries to slip around to the back. Fairn punches as she defends, but Anderson stays firm in the position and trips the action to the canvas. She’s not quite on the back, so she steps over with the left leg, and she’s now in mount. Anderson controlling the head with her left arm. Legs are grapevined. Short right hands for Anderson. She’s heavy on top. Fairn wraps the body, but Anderson postures once she lets go and delivers a few punches. Fairn turns briefly to her side, but Anderson presses her flat again. More punches and elbows land from the top. Anderson not doing a ton of damage, but she’s certainly in control. Fairn turns to escape. Anderson tries to take the back but winds up falling over. Still, she’s got the triangle in place. Nice transition. Patient work on the bottom, cinching it up and turning to the side. Squeeze is there, and Fairn has to tap.

Result: Megan Anderson def. Zarah Fairn via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:57
Recap: Megan Anderson overwhelms, submits Zarah Fairn in first round
Photos: Megan Anderson vs. Zarah Fairn photos
Records: Megan Anderson (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Zarah Fairn (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s featherweight
Broadcast: ESPN2
Referee: Greg Klenjans

Jamie Mullarkey vs. Brad Riddell

Round 1 – Mullarkey with a quick jab and then a kick to the legs. Riddell circling his left hand. He just misses a big right hand over his opponent’s low kick. Mullarkey chops the leg again. Riddell rattles off a quick combination. He’s using his jab now, as well, and he kicks the leg, too. Riddell turning up the volume a bit. His hands are quick. Lead uppercut scores for Riddell. Mullarkey moving well, but he’s starting to take some damage. Mullarkey changes levels, but Riddell with the whizzer is able to stay upright. Mullarkey drives the action to the cage. Riddell defends well there and finally pulls away with a little more than a minute left. Riddell the one setting the pace late. He digs to the body. They trade punches to close. MMA Junkie leans toward Riddell, 10-9.

Round 2 – Riddell out quickly and looking to string punches together. Mullarkey slips under and drives the action to the floor. Mullarkey pops right back to the feet, but Mullarkey stays tight to the body and drags the action to the canvas. He tries to step over and control the legs, but Riddell is able to work back to his feet and slip away. Quickly, though, he throw a low kick, and Mullarkey grabs it and sweeps the other leg out, sending his opponent to the floor. Riddell again proves hard to control, and he sits up and powers over into a sweep. But Mullarkey is equally crafty and crawls up before turning to a single leg. Riddell battles it well, and they reset to the center. Riddell with a nice low kick on the restart. His left eye is busted up. Still, he’s throwing heavy shots. Mullarkey shoots from range. Riddell stuffs it. Reshot, and Riddell stuffs it again and actually pushes Mullarkey to his back. Mullarkey turns to his knees. Riddell on the back and wants the choke. He can’t quite get it under, and he slips off the side. Mullarkey finishes on top. Close round. MMA Junkie leans Mullarkey, 10-9.

Round 3 – Both men trade punches in the center to start.Spirited work. Mullarkey with a jab, then he changes levels. Not there. Riddell counters with his own takedown and gets the action to the canvas. He backs away, and Mullarkey quickly scrambles up. Big punches traded again, and Riddell lands a stiff right hand. Mullarkey tough as ails. Big punches landing. Mullarkey with a crisp left counter. Riddell to the floor. Mullarkey jumps on his back. He wants the choke, but Mullarkey keeps his chin tucked. Mullarkey very high on the back. He finally pops out, and referee Marc Goddard replaces Mullarkey’s mouthpiece, which had popped out earlier. Big shots on the restart. Absolute war. Mullarkey rocked. He crawls back to the feet. They tee off before Mullarkey shoots. Riddell sprawls well and turns Mullarkey to his back. Riddell on top and looking to punch. He backs away. Mullarkey is exhausted, but he stands. They tee off again. Mullarkey’s mouthpiece out again. He reaches down to pick it up. Riddell just as tired. Mullarkey shoots, but Riddell sprawls and starts punching again. All heart from Mullarkey. Riddell swarming, but Mullarkey is tough as nails. MMA Junkie gives the final round to Riddell, awarding him the fight 29-28.

Result: Brad Riddell def. Jamie Mullarkey via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Recap: Two UFC newcomers delivered maybe round of the year in an absolute barnburner at UFC 243
Photos: Brad Riddell vs. Jamie Mullarkey photos
Records: Jamie Mullarkey (12-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Brad Riddell (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN2
Referee: Marc Goddard
Judging: Christopher Shen (29-27, giving Mullarkey round 2 and Riddell a 10-8 in round 3), Ben Cartlidge (30-26, giving Riddell a 10-8 in round 3), Charlie Keech (30-26, giving Riddell a 10-8 in round 3)

Maki Pitolo vs. Callan Potter

Round 1 – Potter misses on a big right to start. Lead hook misses, as well. He teases a takedown, tapping the thigh. Potter pressing, but Pitolo taps hm with a jab and a few punches to the body. Potter briefly works to a clinch, but nothing there. Potter rifling off punches, but Pitolo answering and landing the cleaner shots. Still, Potter presses, and he lands a few big left hands. Both men scoring with big shots. Pitolo wraps the body ad takes the fight to the floor. Potter tries to turn to his knees and rise. Pitolo has the left arm around the beck. He locks in the choke, but he’s off to the side, and Potter lasts through it. Pitolo lets go as he slips over, and he’s not in a seated position. Potter steps over the legs and controls there. Pitolo wraps the neck and stands. He locks in a guillotine, but Potter lifts him and slams him to the canvas. Pitolo crawls back up, and they start trading punches again. Pitolo landing more, but Potter again lands that big left hand. Both men taking damage. Potter controls from the outside and laces in a few knees to the body.Round ends in the clinch. MMA Junkie leans toward Potter, 10-9.

Round 2 – Pitolo with his hands up and looking to strike. Potter doing well again to leap in and out of range. Pitolo’s jab landing clean, and Potter is busted up. Potter kicks the legs. Pitolo now seems a step ahead. He’s a little quicker, a little faster to the punch. Potter still standing in the pocket and firing back. He walks forward and drives Pitolo to the cage. They battle for position against the cage. Potter throwing punches in tight, but they’re not doing any damage. Still, Potter is happy to keep the action in the clinch. Referee Steve Perceval finally pulls them apart, and they start teeing off once again. Standing in the pocket, punches go back and forth until Potter again pushes into the clinch. Less than a minute. Perceval again calls fro action. Potter with a nice elbow inside. Another restart, and they tee off again. Potter the one moving forward until the bell. MMA Junkie gives another close one to Potter, 10-9.

Round 3 – Quick start. They punch into a clinch, and Potter is able to score an outside trip to the floor. Pitolo quickly to his knees. Potter wants the back, but he slips off. Pitolo with top position, but Potter immediately moves to his feet. They break away and move to the center. Pitolo seems the fresher man with his flurries, but Potter again wraps his body and throws the action to the floor. Potter trying to set up the arm-triangle. Not there, but he’s able to move to mount in the process. They’re up against the cage, so there’s not a lot of room to work. Still, Potter dominating the positioning. Potter controlling and rattling in some short punches to keep the position. Pitolo is just absolutely stuck. Less than a minute, and he can’t get off his back. Potter not doing a ton of damage, but he’s clearly in control. He stays on top until the end. MMA Junkie gives the final round to Potter, 10-9, awarding him the fight 30-27.

Result: Callan Potter def. Maki Pitolo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos: Callan Potter vs. Maki Pitolo photos
Records: Maki Pitolo (12-5 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Callan Potter (18-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN2
Referee: Steve Perceval

Rostem Akman vs. Jake Matthews

Round 1 – Matthews circling on the outside and looking to strike from range. Akman walking forward and looking to set the pace. Matthews moving well and chopping the legs when can. They both sit down on punches that just miss. High kick misses for Matthews. They again trade punches that just miss. Akman holding the center. He hasn’t really landed clean, but he’s in a good position. Matthews with a few right hands that are blocked. He fires a left to the body. Akman trying to push forward, but Matthews doing a good job of slipping out of the way. Crowd restless in the final minute. It’s tactical, but it’s not riveting right now. Matthews lands with an overhand right. He’s staying safe on the outside and landing when he can. Round ends on the feet. MMA Junkie gives it to Matthews, 10-9.

Round 2 – Akman again takes the center and looks to press forward. Matthews content to retreat and counter, launching the right hand when he does step forward. Akman kicks the leg, but he misses when he rushes with punches. Matthews fighting smart, but he’s not thrilling anyone right now. He fires a high kick that just misses. Right hands score. Akman having trouble finding the mark. He’s pushing the pace but not really reaping the benefits. Akman presses forward and misses on a knee. He does land with two punches. Akman still walking forward. They trade punches, and Matthews gets the best of it. Punch land to the body. They tee off at the end. MMA Junkie leans toward Matthews, 10-9.

Round 3 – Akman continues to move forward, with Matthews waiting for his moment to leap forward with the big right hand. Akman trying to press the pace a little to start the third in what has been a rather unremarkable fight. The pattern of action continues. Matthews certainly throwing the harder punches, but he’s not doing it with any real frequency. He also just can’t seem to land completely clean. Meanwhile, Akman is pushing forward but not cutting off the cage. Matthews finally moves inside and grabs the body. He briefly drags Akman to a knee, but that’s about it. Akman back to his feet, and he’s able to pull away. Matthews continues to move well, slipping his opponent’s attacks and delivering replies. Big right hand lands for Matthews in the final minute. Another follows. Akman grabs the neck and drops for a guillotine to close. Matthews pops his head out with relative ease. MMA Junkie gives the final round to Matthews, 10-9, awarding him the fight 30-27.

Result: Jake Matthews def. Rostem Akman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: Jake Matthews vs. Rostem Akman photos
Records: Rostem Akman (6-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC), Jake Matthews (15-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC)
Division: Welterweight
Broadcast: ESPN2
Referee: Greg Klenjans
Judging: Ben Cartlidge (30-27), Christopher Shen (30-27), Charlie Keech (30-27)

Yorgan De Castro vs. Justin Tafa

Round 1 – Tafa takes the center to start. Big punches traded before the clinch. De Castro spins off to the center and fires more punches before clinching again. Both men throwing big to start. Tafa circles off the cage. He’s got underhooks. He digs at the body a bit as De Castro leans against the cage. Tafa focusing on head positioning and attacking the body. Finally, he backs away, and we reset. De Castro with a big shot from the outside. Tafa clinches briefly again. Big punches come forward again from Tafa, but De Castro lands clean with a right hand. Tafa is out. Vicious finish.

Result: Yorgan De Castro def. Justin Tafa via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:10
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Yorgan De Castro (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Justin Tafa (3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:

Sergey Spivak vs. Tai Tuivasa

Round 1 –

Result:
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Photos:
Records: Sergey Spivak (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), Tai Tuivasa (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Division: Heavyweight
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging:

Dan Hooker vs. Al Iaquinta

Round 1 –

Result:
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Dan Hooker (18-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC), Al Iaquinta (14-5-1 MMA, 9-4 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Rankings: Iaquinta No. 6, Hooker No. 14
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging:

Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya

Round 1 –

Result:
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Photos:
Records: Robert Whittaker (20-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC), Israel Adesanya (17-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Rankings: Whittaker No. 1, No. 9 pound-for-pound; Adesanya No. 2, No. 11 pound-for-pound
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Referee:
Judging: