UFC 281 - Adesanya vs Pereira LIVE: Stream, latest updates and results tonight
Re-live round-by-round updates from the UFC 281 main event plus Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler and Weili Zhang vs Carla Esparza
Israel Adesanya’s three-year reign as UFC middleweight champion came to an end on Saturday night, as he was stopped by old kickboxing rival Alex Pereira in the final round.
Pereira entered New York City, Madison Square Garden, and the main event of UFC 281 with two wins over Adesanya from the pair’s kickboxing days, including a knockout victory five years ago. Adesanya, however, carried much greater mixed martial arts experience into the bout, with 23 wins and just one defeat as a professional, compared to the 6-1 record that his challenger had compiled. And Adesanya’s experience looked set to pay off, the Nigerian-born New Zealander outstriking “Poatan” in Round 1 and outgrappling the fatiguing Brazilian in the third and fourth frames.
However, a re-energised Pereira, 35, went in pursuit of a finish in the final round, eventually rocking Adesanya, 33, with a flurry of punches against the fence. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in as Adesanya failed to mount sufficient defence against the onslaught, and Pereira was declared the new champion as his old rival’s three-year reign came to an end. In the co-main event, Zhang Weili regained the women’s strawweight belt by submitting Carla Esparza, after Dustin Poirier submitted Michael Chandler, and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar retired with a brutal KO loss.
Re-live round-by-round updates from the UFC 281 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 281 LIVE
Fulll UFC 281 report and results:
Alex Pereira ends Israel Adesanya’s title reign with comeback TKO at UFC 281
Pereira replicated his kickboxing wins against Adesanya to claim the UFC middleweight title at Madison Square Garden in New York City
UFC 281 LIVE
We’re still coming to terms with what we just saw! Wild.
UFC 281 LIVE
Unthinkable? Indy Sport predicted a third-round TKO win for Pereira!
UFC 281 LIVE
Pereira apologises for trash-talking ahead of the fight.
UFC 281 LIVE
Alex Pereira def. Israel Adesanya via fifth-round TKO (punches, 2:01).
UFC 281 LIVE
Adesanya fought a near-perfect fight. He had Pereira out on his feet at the end of Round 1, but the Brazilian returned the favour in Round 5 to snatch it.
UFC 281 LIVE
Round 5
Adesanya kicks to the body. Forward comes Pereira. Short hooks connect for Adesanya.
Pereira checks a leg kick and Adesanya rolls back onto the mat then back up! How badly hurt is the champion??
He seems to be moving okay... He rolls with a couple of right hands, but Pereira starts to connect with left hooks and uppercuts, and THE FIGHT IS STOPPED AGAINST THE FENCE!
PEREIRA WITH THE TKO ON THE FEET! AND NEW!
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments