There was drama all over the undercard on Sunday in the hours leading up to Israel Adesanya’s championship defence against Sean Strickland.

Order UFC 293 Sydney: Adesanya v Strickland, Tuivasa v Volkov. Sun 10 Sept. Main Event on Kayo Sports

The blockbuster card, held at Qudos Bank Arena in western Sydney, was earlier overshadowed by the ugly moment where Radtke had the crowd turn on him after he made a disgusting comment.

2pm – Adesanya vs Strickland

The fight is underway with both men refusing to touch gloves after referee Marc Goddard went over the rules.

Round 1: Strickland controlled the centre of the Octagon but barely threw shots as he stayed in the face of Adesanya. In the final 30 seconds of the round the challenger landed a monster right hand that dropped the champ but he survived the onslaught and made it to the bell. 10-9 Strickland.

“Holy sh*t. I really thought Strickland was about to get the finish right there. Shocking. I’m shook,” Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox wrote.

Round 2: The champ recovered and found his groove in the second round as he began to land the more telling shots of the two men. Strickland kept coming forward not giving Adesanya any space. 19-19 tied.

1.40pm – Bam Bam taps out in front of home fans

Western Sydney heavyweight fighter Tai Tuivasa has been taken down in front of his home crowd.

The sixth ranked heavyweight in the UFC was defeated by seventh ranked Alexander Volkov who used his height and reach to superior advantage.

In the second round however after the two fighters traded heavy blows on their feet it was on the ground where Volkov pounced.

The Russian got on top of Tuivasa before locking in an ezekiel choke from the mount and forcing Bam Bam to tap out.

1:20pm – Second fighter drops disgusting slur

Manel Kape has become the second fighter of the night to drop a disgusting slur after recording a win.

Kape got the better of Felipe dos Santos in a three round war before he turned his attention to Kiwi Kai Kara-France in his post fight interview.

“All these numbers 2, 3, 4, they not accept to fight me because they’re fucking scared,” Kape said before labelling Kara-France a “piece of sh*t” Kai Kara-France and then turning on his gym, City Kickboxing, where he said they were all a “bunch of f*****s”.

As he walked out of the Octagon UFC boss Dana White was seen having a word to the fighter.

1pm – Tafa drops Lane with massive KO hit

New Zealand’s Justin Tafa has knocked out former NFL defensive end Austen Lane with a massive one-punch blow during their heavyweight clash.

Sizing up Lane with a short right hand, Tafa went all in with strong left hook that knocked Lane to the ground, before alternating punches to his head as he hit the ground, being pulled away as the referee stepped in.

11am – Fighter booed out stadium after slur

UFC legend Daniel Cormier pulled the microphone away from American fighter Charles Radtke after he dropped a homophobic slur after his win over Mike Mathetha.

Radtke was booed even before the end of the fight after the contest failed to produce any excitement with the fight largely happening on the ground.

Radtke was awarded the win via unanimous decision victory by the judges (29-27 x3) with the “Blood Diamond” disappointing in his day at the office.

Radtke responded in his post-fight interview inside the Octago, saying: “

“It felt great, so f*** all you f****s up in the crowd,” Radtke said.

“Come down and get some you p***y a*** b***h. F*** you.”

He then stuck his middle fingers up towards the grand stand.

Radtke’s post-fight interview was cut short immediately after the homophobic slur and he was escorted backstage. He was booed on his way back to the locker room and reportedly had at a beer cup hurled at him.

Some UFC fighters hit out at the American fighter.

Derek Brunson posted on Twitter that Radtke had “lost his mind”.

“Yeah Radtke’s about to be doing community service at the LGBTQ for the next 6 months,” he posted.

ESPN UFC commentator Alan Jouban also complimented Cormier on putting an end to the interview early.

8am – Weigh-ins produce huge fireworks

It was another fighter on the card who clashed with Adesanya in a surprise twist during Friday night’s weigh-ins after Manel Kape called out City Kickboxing teammate and fellow Kiwi Kai Kara-France.

Kara-France pulled out his scheduled bout with Kape at UFC 293 due to concussion, with rising contender Felipe Dos Santos taking his place.

Kape though called Kara-France out for it on Thursday, prompting Adesanya to stand up and try get in his face as Strickland instead became the surprising mediator for the pair.

“Unfortunately Kai Kara-France is a b***h,” opened Kape.

“The f***ing b***h is in front of me and you are f***ing guilty because this kid’s going to pay. Afraid because, ‘Oh, I have a concussion’, you have three weeks to fight.

“You little f***ing p***y. You have the courage to come here. Stand up motherf***er. Stand the f*** up motherf***er.”

Adesanya was quick to leap to the defence of his teammate and had the Australian crowd’s backing too, with chants of “Kape’s a w***er” ringing out.

“Having f***ing respect,” Adesanya fired back.

“Shut the f*** up b***h. Look at this little midget trying to f*** with me. I will f***ing bury you.”

Strickland, having been the source for so much of the animosity earlier in the week, then stood up to try take matters into his own hands and put out the spotfire.

“Calm the f*** down. I’m supposed to be the a**ehole here Izzy, that’s not your job,” he said.

— foxsports.com.au

FULL CARD

Main card (from 12pm)

Israel Adesanya (c) v Sean Strickland for middleweight championship

Alexander Volkov def. Tai Tuivasa via submission Round 2

Manel Kape def. Felipe dos Santos via decision

Justin Tafa def. Austen Lane via KO Round 1

Tyson Pedro def. Anton Turkalj via KO Round 1

Preliminary card

Carlos Ulberg def. Da Un Jung via submission Round 3

Chepe Mariscal def. Jack Jenkins via TKO Round 2

Jamie Mullarkey def. John Makdessi via UD (29-28 x3)

Nasrat Haqparast def. Landon Quinones via UD (30-27 x3)

Charlie Radtke def. Blood Diamond via UD (29-27 x3)

Gabriel Miranda def. Shane Young via submission Round 1

Kevin Jousset def. Kiefer Crosbie via submission Round 1

How to watch

Fight fans can catch all the action from UFC 293 on Kayo Sports and Main Event.

Order UFC 293 Sydney: Adesanya v Strickland, Tuivasa v Volkov. Sun 10 Sept. Main Event on Kayo Sports