The Octagon will return to New York for tonight’s UFC 281, a fourteen-round bout between Israel’s Adesanya and Alex Pereira.
Adesanya (23-1 MMA) and Pereira (6-1 MMA) certainly have history, with ‘Poatan’ beating ‘Stylebender’ twice in Glory kickboxing.
Israel Adesanya will return for the first time since with a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 in July. Izzy will be looking forward to winning his sixth career middleweight title defense tonight at Madison Square Garden.
Meanwhile, Alex Pereira made his final UFC 276 fight, defeating Sean Strickland in the first-round knockout. The Brazilian kickboxing specialist has a perfect 3-0 record since joining the UFC team in 2021.
Tonight’s UFC 281 event is co-led by Carla Esparza’s women’s strawweight title fight against Weili Zhang.
Esparza (19-6 MMA) regains 115 pounds at UFC 274 in May The title was won by a split decision victory over Ross Namajunas. That win was Cookie Monster’s sixth in a row, beating the likes of Yan Xiaonan, Marina Rodriguez, Michelle Watson and Alexa Grasso in a row.
Meanwhile, Weili Zhang (22-3 MMA) was last seen at UFC 275 in June, where she defeated Joanna Jędrzejczyk in a nasty knockout. The victory ended a two-fight loss for the Chinese luminary as Zhang had previously lost back-to-back to Ross Namajunas.
If that’s not enough to interest you, tonight’s UFC 281 also includes a key lightweight fight between perennial divisional contenders Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler.
Poirier (28-7 MMA) will return for the first time since losing to Charles Oliveira is fighting for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 269. Before that setback, the “Diamonds” had won three straight, including two TKO wins over Conor McGregor.
As for Michael Chandler (23-7 MMA), “Iron” was last seen in 274 fights in May where he scored Tony Ferguson Ferguson’s great game (see here). Before that victory, the former Bellator champion lost to Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira respectively.
Get all tonight’s live results and highlights below (refresh for updates):
UFC 281 Main Card (US 10pm EST on PPV)
Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira –
Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili –
Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler –
Frankie Edgar vs. Chris Gutierrez – Edgar def. Gutierrez by KO in Round 1
💔 pic.twitter.com/xCi0LNuioI
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) November 13, 2022
Dan Hooker vs. Claudio Puelles – Hooker def. Puelles by TKO (body kick) in round 2
pic.twitter.com/tydgByTiNC
— MMA Fire 2.0 (@FireMMAVids) November 13, 2022
UFC 281 Prelims (8pm) ESPN+)
Brad Riddell vs. Renato Moicano – Moicano def. Riddell Passes Submission in Round 1
BJJ Babe (Post Naked Choking)! 🥋 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/UUPCHGxVXb
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) November 13, 2022
Dominick Reyes vs Ryan Spann – Spann def. 1:20 KO of the first round Reyes
Wow! 😱 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/cMEsN8YNzi
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) November 13, 2022
Erin Blanchfield vs. Molly McCann – Blanchfield def. McCann passed submission (Kimura) at 3:37 of round 1
What a great performance 👏🏼 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/90FU84oZCW
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) November 13, 2022
Andre Petroski vs. Wellington Turman – Petroski def. Turman by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
UFC 281 early heats (ESPN+ 6pm EST)
Matt Frevola vs. Ottman Azaitar – Frevola def. Azaitar passed KO at 2:30 of round 1
yeah yeah 😅 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com / AgdOb0ri9b
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) November 13, 2022
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Silvana Gomez – Kowalkiewicz def . Gomez by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Michael Trizano vs. Seungwoo Choi – Trizano def. Choi at 4:51 of the first leg TKO
Trizano finishes the game! What nonsense 🔥 #UFC281 https://t.co/vimMeErBzu
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) November 12, 2022
Julio Arce vs. Montel Jackson – Jackson def. Arce by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Carlos Ulberg vs. Nicolae Negumereanu – Ulberg def. Negumereanu by KO (punch) at 3:44 of round 1
The beginning of UFC 281🔥 pic.twitter.com/QodHnpnCKA
– bjpenndotcom ( @bjpenndotcom) November 12, 2022
Who are you to win tonight’s UFC 281 fight? Share your predictions in the comments section!
This article was first published on BJPENN.COM
