UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero Full Fight Card, Date & Details
UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero
United States
Main Card • Final
Nigeria
R5, 5:00
Title Fight
Cuba
China
R5, 5:00
Title Fight
Fight of the Night
Poland
R2, 1:00
Performance of the Night
R3, 5:00
Brazil
R3, 5:00
Prelims • Final
R1, 2:02
Performance of the Night
Mexico
Denmark
R3, 5:00
R1, 2:58
Russia
R3, 2:13
Early Prelims • Final
Georgia
R3, 5:00
Mongolia
R1, 3:01
Argentina
Official Event Results
Title Bout
Title Bout
$50k FOTN
$50k POTN
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$50,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night ($50,000 each): Zhang Weili and Joanna Jędrzejczyk each received $50,000 for their breathtaking 25-minute championship classic, widely heralded as the greatest fight in female mixed martial arts history.
Performance of the Night ($50,000 each): Beneil Dariush earned $50,000 for his wild comeback knockout over Drakkar Klose in Round 2, while Sean O’Malley collected $50,000 for his spectacular first-round head-kick finish of José Alberto Quiñónez in his return from a two-year layoff.
Reported Payouts & Disclosed Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $500,000 | — | — | $500,000 | |
| LOSS | $350,000 | — | — | $350,000 | |
| WIN | $100,000 | $100,000 | $50,000 | $250,000 | |
| LOSS | $106,000 | — | $50,000 | $156,000 | |
| WIN | $70,000 | $70,000 | $50,000 | $190,000 | |
| LOSS | $40,000 | — | — | $40,000 | |
| WIN | $76,000 | $76,000 | — | $152,000 | |
| LOSS | $64,000 | — | — | $64,000 | |
| WIN | $64,000 | $64,000 | — | $128,000 | |
| LOSS | $35,000 | — | — | $35,000 | |
| WIN | $35,000 | $35,000 | $50,000 | $120,000 | |
| LOSS | $33,000 | — | — | $33,000 | |
| WIN | $33,000 | $33,000 | — | $66,000 | |
| LOSS | $12,000 | — | — | $12,000 | |
| WIN | $14,000 | $14,000 | — | $28,000 | |
| LOSS | $22,000 | — | — | $22,000 | |
| WIN | $30,000 | $30,000 | — | $60,000 | |
| LOSS | $12,000 | — | — | $12,000 | |
| WIN | $12,000 | $12,000 | — | $24,000 | |
| LOSS | $10,000 | — | — | $10,000 | |
| WIN | $10,000 | $10,000 | — | $20,000 | |
| LOSS | $14,000 | — | — | $14,000 |
*Purses reflect official figures disclosed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). The total disclosed payout for the event was $2,086,000 (excluding discretionary and promotional compliance payments). Official post-fight bonus awards ($50,000 each) are included in the estimated total column.
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at UFC 248
Zhang Weili and Joanna Jędrzejczyk’s strawweight title clash was voted the 2020 Fight of the Year across all major MMA publications and is hailed as the greatest female fight in combat sports history.
Zhang Weili (165) and Joanna Jędrzejczyk (186) landed 351 combined significant strikes, at the time the third-highest total ever recorded in a UFC championship fight.
Former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk extended her record for the most significant strikes landed in UFC women’s strawweight history, eclipsing 1,700 total landed strikes.
Israel Adesanya defended his undisputed middleweight championship for the first time, preserving his unblemished professional mixed martial arts record at 19-0.
Drawing 15,077 fans for a $2,742,906 gate, UFC 248 was the final UFC event held before a full-capacity arena crowd prior to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Beneil Dariush survived an early onslaught to deliver an iconic one-punch comeback knockout of Drakkar Klose at 1:00 of Round 2, earning Performance of the Night honors.
Returning from a 735-day layoff, Sean O’Malley needed just two minutes to dismantle José Alberto Quiñónez with a head kick and follow-up strikes for a $50,000 bonus.
2016 Olympic silver medalist Mark Madsen grounded Austin Hubbard with 8 takedowns and 7:50 of control time to preserve his undefeated professional MMA record.
ADCC world champion Rodolfo Vieira secured his second consecutive UFC first-round arm-triangle submission, maintaining a 100% finishing rate in mixed martial arts.
Danaa Batgerel became the first fighter born in Mongolia to record a knockout victory inside the Octagon, stopping Guido Cannetti with punches at 3:01 of Round 1.
Kickboxing standout Giga Chikadze earned his first official UFC victory via split decision against Jamall Emmers, initiating a historic seven-fight promotional win streak.
Adesanya and Romero combined for only 88 landed significant strikes over 25 minutes, marking one of the lowest combined striking totals for a five-round title fight in modern UFC history.
When and where did UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero take place?
UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero took place on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who won the main event between Israel Adesanya and Yoel Romero?
Israel Adesanya defeated Yoel Romero via unanimous decision (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) to successfully defend his UFC Middleweight Championship for the first time.
Who won the co-main event between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jędrzejczyk?
Zhang Weili defeated Joanna Jędrzejczyk via split decision (48–47, 47–48, 48–47) in an all-time classic five-round war to retain the UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship.
Why is Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk considered one of the greatest fights in MMA history?
The bout featured 351 combined significant strikes landed over 25 nonstop minutes of high-paced elite striking, earning unanimous 2020 Fight of the Year awards and later induction into the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing.
Who won post-fight bonuses at UFC 248?
Four fighters received $50,000 bonuses: Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk earned Fight of the Night, while Beneil Dariush (KO) and Sean O’Malley (TKO) earned Performance of the Night honors.
How did Beneil Dariush knock out Drakkar Klose?
After being hurt in a wild exchange early in Round 2, Beneil Dariush fired back with a massive left overhand punch that knocked Drakkar Klose out cold on his feet at 1:00 of the second round.
How did Sean O’Malley perform in his return after a two-year layoff?
Returning after 735 days out of the Octagon, Sean O’Malley dismantled José Alberto Quiñónez with a head kick and follow-up punches, winning via TKO at 2:02 of Round 1 to remain undefeated.
What was the live gate and attendance for UFC 248?
UFC 248 drew an official attendance of 15,077 fans with a live gate revenue of $2,742,906.20 at the T-Mobile Arena.
Was UFC 248 the last UFC event before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns?
Yes. UFC 248 was the final UFC event held in front of a full-capacity arena crowd before the sports world was paused and subsequent events transitioned behind closed doors.
Who won the welterweight fight between Neil Magny and Li Jingliang?
Neil Magny dominated Li Jingliang across three rounds, landing 74 significant strikes and two takedowns to earn a unanimous decision sweep (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
How did Rodolfo Vieira defeat Saparbeg Safarov?
Multiple-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Rodolfo Vieira executed a double-leg takedown and submitted Saparbeg Safarov with an arm-triangle choke at 2:58 of Round 1.
What milestone did Danaa Batgerel achieve with his win over Guido Cannetti?
Danaa Batgerel became the first Mongolian fighter to score a knockout in UFC history, dropping Guido Cannetti with punches at 3:01 of Round 1.
Who won the welterweight clash between Alex Oliveira and Max Griffin?
Alex Oliveira edged out Max Griffin via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) in a bloody, back-and-forth welterweight battle.
Where was UFC 248 broadcast?
The main card aired live on Pay-Per-View via ESPN+ PPV in the United States, with televised prelims airing on ESPN, and early prelims streaming on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
What was the total disclosed fighter payroll for UFC 248?
The official fighter payroll reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission was $2,086,000, headlined by Israel Adesanya ($500,000) and Yoel Romero ($350,000).
UFC news
