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
Round 2
Pereira has regained his senses and urges the crowd to make some noise.
Izzy is looser now. He kicks to the legs then body of Pereira, who marches forward nevertheless.
Brutal left hook to the body from Pereira. He’s trapping Adesanya against the fence.
Pereira blocks a head kick but eats a jab. The fighters clinch against the fence, and Pereira lands a harsh knee that seems to hurt the champion.
Adesanya lifts Pereira slightly! The men separate, then Adesanya connects with a jab and a right cross.
UFC 281 LIVE
Round 1
Pereira is biting massively on Adesanya’s feints. The challenger comes forward now, and Adesanya reaches out to grab his gloves. The champion looks a tad nervous.
Pereira with a glancing head kick; Adesanya with a solid low kick, then a body kick.
Pereira kicks to the body, before Adesanya kicks low once more.
Pereira is backing up Adesanya and narrowly misses with a left hook, then a knee!
Adesanya with a firm body lock late in the round, but Pereira lands a number of body punches in there... The pair then separate.
OH! ADESANYA CLIPS PEREIRA WITH A RIGHT HAND, AND PEREIRA IS OUT ON HIS FEET!
Then a left hook on the buzzer, and Pereira almost goes down! WOW!
UFC 281 LIVE
Round 1
Pereira comes straight out with a jumping front kick! He just misses. He looks massive in there.
Low kick from Adesanya. Lots of feints from the champion. The arena is strangely quiet; it must be the tension.
Another leg kick from Adesanya. Pereira now returns the favour, before kicking high. He eats a stern jab, though.
Pereira’s stance is very much an upright one. Adesanya just about sees a head kick blocked. Nice counter jab from the champion, then a fierce right cross over the top.
UFC 281 LIVE
Intense face-off.
This one feels seismic.
Adesanya vs Pereira for the UFC middleweight title.
It starts now.
UFC 281 LIVE
Pereira’s nickname, “Poatan”, translates from Portuguese to English as “Hands of Stone”.
UFC 281 LIVE
Adesanya’s run to the middleweight title, and his reign since, have been phenomenal.
The 33-year-old claimed the belt within 18 months of making his UFC debut, and he has retained it five times since winning it.
UFC 281 LIVE
Adesanya said he wants this fight to be a “horror movie”. Well, his walkout is Saw-themed.
Israel Adesanya wants ‘horror movie’ scene in Alex Pereira fight at UFC 281
Adesanya, who was beaten by Pereira twice in kickboxing bouts, defends the UFC middleweight title against his old rival on Saturday
UFC 281 LIVE
Now here comes the “Last Stylebender”, one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA.
Will he use his greater experience in the sport to grapple Pereira at all tonight?
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