Newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira will make his first title defence on Sunday as he faces Israel Adesanya in a highly-anticipated rematch to headline UFC 287.
Adesanya will look to reclaim his middleweight crown after losing it at UFC 281, with Pereira handing him his first defeat in the division — and first-ever MMA stoppage loss.
The 35-year-old Brazilian had twice beaten Adesanya in kickboxing (via a controversial decision in 2016 and knockout in 2017).
But the former champion Adesanya has a chance to put the past behind him and re-establish his reign at the top of the division.
Watch UFC 287: Pereira v Adesanya 2 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday April 9 from 12pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
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“Not many people get the opportunity to show how great they are, to rise to the occasion when all the odds are stoked against them and people are counting them out,” Adesanya said at the UFC 287 media day earlier in the week.
“And for me, this fight, I feel like the underdog. I feel like everyone is counting me out. I feel like because of the result of the last fight, goldfish memory. They forgot what I’ve done in this game. It’s time to remind people how great I am.”
Adesanya described it as his “Eminem moment”, referencing the famous lines out of the rapper’s song ‘Lose Yourself’: ‘You get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes one in a lifetime.’
“This is it for me,” Adesanya declared.
Pereira, meanwhile, told reporters earlier in the week that he believes another victory over Adesanya means he will never have to face his bitter rival again.
“I believe that me beating him, I will never face him again,” Pereira said.
“I do know how to beat him. I know how he fights. I know how he works, so I do know how to beat him.”
Pereira though denied that a move to light heavyweight would be the logical next step, should he take care of Adesanya.
“People say that I’m big, that I’m too heavy for the division, but in kickboxing I fought one kilo, (I cut) two more pounds than I do now,” Pereira said.
“Right now, I’m focused on making history and reigning as a champion in this division. Later down the road, my body will tell me when it’s time to move up.”
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Other highlight fights in the main card include Gilbert Burns facing off with Jorge Masvidal in a co-main event which promises plenty of fireworks.
There has been talk that Masvidal, who boasts an impressive 35-16 record, could retire after Sunday’s fight but Burns isn’t buying it.
“I don’t like the fact that a fighter starts thinking about retirement, talking about retirement,” Burns told reporters earlier this week.
“I don’t think he’ll retire. I think I’m going to beat him, but I don’t think he’ll retire. I think he’s making a lot of money on these fights.”
Earlier in the card, 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. will look to silence his doubters as the undefeated sensation takes on Christian Rodriguez in a bantamweight bout.
WHAT TIME DOES UFC 287 START?
The action in UFC 287 gets underway with the early prelims, with the first fight scheduled for 8am (AEST) before the prelims at 10am.
The main card, meanwhile, is expected to begin at 12pm with Pereira and Adesanya to make their octagon walks around 2pm, depending how long the earlier fights go for.
HOW TO WATCH UFC 287
You can watch UFC 287: Pereira v Adesanya 2 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel. You can order here!
FULL UFC 287 FIGHT CARD
Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira (c), middleweight championship
Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal, welterweights
Adrian Yanez vs. Rob Font, bantamweights
Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio, welterweights
Raul Rosas Jr.vs. Christian Rodriguez, bantamweights
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis, middleweights
Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson, women’s strawweights
Karl Williams vs. Chase Sherman, heavyweights
Joe Pyfer vs. Gerald Meerschaert, middleweights
Loopy Godinez vs. Cynthia Calvillo, women’s strawweights
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta, lightweights
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke vs. Steve Garcia, featherweights
Jaqueline Amorim vs. Sam Hughes, women’s strawweights
