UFC 287 LIVE: Adesanya knocks out Pereira – result

Round 2

Pinheiro catches a kick and drives her opponent to the cage wall again.

Once more, Waterson-Gomez shows off some solid takedown defence, and she slices Pinheiro with an elbow while circling into space!

Both women land clean punches in the following exchange. Waterson-Gomez with more harsh low kicks, but – as in Round 1– Pinheiro finishes with a strong right hand!

Round 2

That was a great opening round, and the second starts well, too. Pinheiro lands a hard punch but is caught by two front kicks to the face – a right leg then left leg from Waterson-Gomez!

Waterson-Gomez lands a stinging right low kick, while Pinheiro tags the American with a right overhand. Another is on target for Pinheiro, and her opponent stumbles slightly!

Pinheiro grabs Waterson-Gomez and holds her against the fence. Good takedown defence from Waterson-Gomez, though, and the strawweights move back into the open.

Round 1

Both women kick low early on but miss the mark. Waterson-Gomez finds the target on her next attempt, however, as Pinheiro punches over the top but is just out of range.

Now Waterson-Gomez with a teep kick and side kick, though Pinheiro stays light on her feet to avoid the worst of those attempts.

Spinning back elbow from Waterson-Gomez in close! Pinheiro felt that but fires back with a heavy low kick, before tagging her opponent with a one-two upstairs. Both women briefly stand southpaw, before reverting back to orthodox.

Now Pinheiro goes down after a high kick from Waterson-Gomez!! The Brazilian springs back to her feet, though, and looks to get back to work!

And she lands a hard right hand late in the round! It staggers Waterson-Gomez, who is able to survive to the buzzer!

Meanwhile, Pinheiro is on an eight-fight win streak and is 2-0 in the UFC. Last time out, she outpointed Sam Hughes. That was a good 17 months ago, however.

Waterson-Gomez is a real fan favourite but has just one win in her last five fights – a decision over Angela Hill in September 2020, which has been followed by losses to Marina Rodriguez and Amanda Lemos.

Lemos beat Waterson-Gomez via submission in July.

Next we have a women’s strawweight bout between Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Luana Pinheiro!

Joe Pyfer def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches, 3:15).

Round 1

Meerschaert stands southpaw; Pyfer orthodox. Pyfer recently made a name for himself with an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series to set up a full UFC debut.

It’s a nervy start to this one, though, and the crowd is already somewhat restless. Lots of feinting from the fighters, not much landing.

Huge right cross from Pyfer out of nowhere, though!! It snaps back the head of Meerschaert, who also wobbles slightly.

Now Pyfer clips Meerschaert again – it’s a left hook and right hand this time, and down goes the veteran!

He turtles up, making little effort to fight back, and the referee steps in! Pyfer with a massive win.

Next up: Veteran Gerald Meerschaert faces up-and-comer Joe Pyfer at middleweight.

Loopy Godinez def. Cynthia Calvillo via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27).