Official result: Israel Adesanya def. Alex Pereira via KO, Round 2 to win the UFC middleweight championship. Despite having previously defeated Alex Pereira in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts, many believed that Pereira had Adesanya's number. However, in the main event of UFC 287 in Miami, Adesanya proved them wrong by scoring a brutal second-round knockout to once again claim the middleweight championship.
Pereira had been targeting Adesanya's legs with kicks from the beginning of the fight, using the same technique that had worn down Adesanya in their previous meeting at UFC 281. Although Adesanya tried to retaliate with his own kicks and punches, Pereira continued to advance.
In the second round, Adesanya's legs had taken a lot of punishment, and he was close to being defeated once again. After Adesanya's leg buckled, Pereira followed him to the cage and unleashed a flurry of punches and knees.
However, Pereira was not defensively responsible during this assault, and Adesanya took advantage by launching a massive right-hand counter. This punch sent Pereira stumbling, and another right hand brought him down. Adesanya followed up with a ground strike, and the fight was stopped at the 4:21 mark of the second round.
Here are the results of UFC 287:
- Israel Adesanya defeated Alex Pereira (c) via second-round TKO with punches.
- Gilbert Burns defeated Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the bout 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 in his favor.
- Rob Font won his fight against Adrian Yanez via first-round TKO with punches.
- Kevin Holland defeated Santiago Ponzinibbio via third-round TKO with punches.
- Christian Rodriguez won his fight against Raul Rosas Jr. via unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28 in his favor.
- Kelvin Gastelum defeated Chris Curtis via unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 in his favor.
- Luana Pinheiro won her fight against Michelle Waterson via split decision, with the judges scoring the bout 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28 in her favor.
- Joe Pyfer defeated Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO with punches.
- Loopy Godinez won her fight against Cynthia Calvillo via split decision, with the judges scoring the bout 29-28, 28-29, and 30-27 in her favor.
- Ignacio Bahamondes defeated Trey Ogden by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 in his favor.
- Steve Garcia won his fight against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via second-round TKO with strikes.
- Sam Hughes defeated Jaqueline Amorim via unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the bout 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28 in her favor.
