Newsone reports that Israel Adesanya will look to finally gain a win over Alex Pereira at UFC 28, after losing the pair’s three previous clashes across MMA and kickboxing.
This online news platform recalls that Pereira took the UFC middleweight title from Adesanya with a TKO victory in November 2022, and the Brazilian also holds a points win and knockout over the “Last Stylebender” from the pair’s kickboxing days.
Newsone Nigeria reports that the Nigerian-New Zealander Adesanya was on course for victory in their first mixed martial arts meeting, five months ago, after nearly stopping Pereira at the end of the first round. However, “Poatan” secured the finish in the final round, to cap off his quick ascent up the middleweight rankings.
Before that main-event bout, fan favourite Jorge Masvidal will fight in front of a home crowd in Miami, taking on Gilbert Burns – a fellow former welterweight title challenger. Here’s all you need to know.
UFC 287 takes place on Saturday 8 April at the Miami-Dade Arena in Miami.
The early prelims will begin at 11pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1.30am BST on Sunday 9 April (5.30pm PT, 7.30pm CT, 8.30pm ET on Saturday).
The main card is then scheduled for 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday).
The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
Adesanya – 8/11; Pereira – 11/10
Masvidal – 7/2; Burns – 1/5.
Alex Pereira (C) vs Israel Adesanya 2 (middleweight title)
Gilbert Burns vs Jorge Masvidal (welterweight)
Rob Font vs Adrian Yanez (bantamweight)
Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio (welterweight)
Raul Rosas Jr vs Christian Rodriguez (bantamweight)
Chris Curtis vs Kelvin Gastelum (middleweight)
Luana Pinheiro def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez via split decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Joe Pyfer def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches, 3:15)
Loopy Godinez def. Cynthia Calvillo via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Trey Ogden via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Steve Garcia def. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via second-round KO (body punch, 0:36)
Sam Hughes def. Jaqueline Amorim via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).