UFC 243: Preview, pro picks, and interviews

Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will look to unify his title against interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya on Saturday in the main event of UFC 243 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Whittaker (20-4) carries a nine-fight win streak into the matchup, including back-to-back victories over top contender Yoel Romero. "The Reaper" will be fighting for the first time since June 2018; the 28-year-old was slated to defend his title against Kelvin Gastelum in February before an abdominal hernia forced him off the card.

Adesanya (17-0) has competed four times since Whittaker's last title defense, including a unanimous decision victory over Gastelum in April at UFC 236, where he captured the interim middleweight title. "The Last Style Bender" has gone the distance in four of his five UFC fights.

The co-main event features Adesanya's teammate, Dan Hooker, battling Al Iaquinta in a lightweight affair.

Hooker (18-8) has won five of his last six fights since moving up to the lightweight division in 2017. The 29-year-old is coming off a first-round TKO victory over James Vick at UFC San Antonio in July.

Iaquinta (14-5-1) looks to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time in his career after a decision setback to Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at UFC Ottawa. The 32-year-old boasts victories over Kevin Lee (twice), Diego Sanchez, and Jorge Masvidal.

Here's an updated look at the event:

Main card