After stunning the champion to claim the Middleweight crown at UFC 281, Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya meet for the second time in mixed martial arts and the fourth time overall. The two previously met twice in kickboxing matchups. Their first fight was in April 2016, which Pereira won by unanimous decision, and their second was at Glory of Heroes 7 in March 2017, which Pereira won by third-round knockout. The pair headline UFC 287 in Florida this weekend in a PPV event that will light up the MMA-verse.
MMA: UFC Middleweight Championship
Location: Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida
Where to watch: PPV
Date: 09.4.2023, 07:00
Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira became the UFC Middleweight champion after only four fights. He debuted in the UFC at Madison Square Garden in 2021, and by November 2022, 'Poatan' had secured the Middleweight title. The 35-year-old Brazilian fighter, who was a former two-division Kickboxing star, has been exceptional since transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2015, winning six out of his eight MMA fights by knockout thanks to his raw power. Despite being behind on the scorecards to Adesanya in November, Pereira took advantage of a slight falter from the champion to unleash his power and secure a fifth-round TKO. His nickname 'Poatan,' which comes from the Tupi language, means 'Stone Hands'.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 35
- Height: 6' 4"
- Reach: 79"
- Total fights: 7
- Record: 7-1-0
Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, the Nigerian-born New Zealand former UFC Middleweight champion, has had an impressive career in mixed martial arts. He made his UFC debut in February 2018, winning his first fight by TKO. Adesanya went on to win his next five fights in the UFC before securing the interim Middleweight title by defeating Kelvin Gastelum in a fight many consider one of the greatest in UFC history.
Adesanya then became the undisputed UFC Middleweight champion by defeating Robert Whittaker in October 2019. He successfully defended his title several times, including against Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, and Paulo Costa, before facing Alex Pereira in November 2022. Before his loss against Alex Pereira, he had lost to Jan Blachowicz in a fight for the Light Heavyweight championship.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 33
- Height: 6' 4"
- Reach: 80"
- Total fights: 24
- Record: 23-2-0
Expert Betting
With 1.71 odds on 1XBET, Adesanya is the favorite, but don't count out Pereira just yet – he's the massive value at 2.1 odds. And for those of you looking to consider rounds betting – Coinplay has enticing odds of 1.625 for over 3.5 rounds and 1.8 for under 4.5 rounds. If you're feeling bold, Bet 365 offers even higher odds for a Pereira win by KO/TKO or submission at 3.00 or a decision win for Adesanya at 2.80.