(AP) MIAMI — After losing to Alex Pereira in November, Israel Adesanya sought a quick rematch to regain the 185-pound championship he had held since 2019.
Adesanya defeated middleweight champion Pereira with two right hands at UFC 287 in Miami early on Sunday, five months later. He then raised his hands in celebration as he reclaimed the middleweight championship belt and cemented his reputation as one of the all-time great fighters. confirmed as part of the sport.
In the second round, Pereira (7-2) landed on one knee and forced Adesanya (24-2) into the cage. At 4:21, Adesanya emerged from the cage and finished the fight with ground and pound and two right hooks and a right hammer fist. How to Save Money on Teen Car Insurance 2023 USA
Adesanya was a match that 35-year-old Pereira had never lost. Pereira defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing prior to winning by TKO for the welterweight title at UFC 281 in November.
Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria but was raised in New Zealand, joined the UFC in 2018. He won the middleweight title in 2019 by stunning then-champion Robert Whittaker in a knockout.
He was able to successfully defend his title five times as he rose to prominence in the sport. As a challenger on Saturday, he was in uncharted territory.
Gilbert Burns, the fifth-ranked welterweight contender, defeated Jorge Masvidal (35-17) in a unanimous decision during the UFC’s first fight in Miami in 20 years (22-5). How to Estimate Best Car Insurance Price Before Buying a Car 2023 USA
Masvidal was shot repeatedly in the head by Burns, who also appeared to be exerting himself as the fight went on. Burns then paid tribute to the seasoned Masvidal.
Masvidal entered the fight with a three-fight losing streak after losing consecutive title challenges to Kamaru Usman and a unanimous decision to longtime foe Colby Covington. Masvidal turns 39 in November.
After the defeat, Masvidal appeared to give up on the game.
Adrian Yanez’s (16-3) nine-fight winning streak was ended by veteran Rob Font (20-6) with a knockout at 2:57 in the first round. Before Font delivered a strong right hook that knocked Yanez to the ground, they exchanged blows. For the first time in five years, Font, who was making his pay-per-view comeback, used ground and pound to win the fight.
At 3:16 of the last round of their welterweight battle, Kevin Holland (23-9) stunned Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-7) with a devastating left hand. He then leaped over the cage to engage in combat with UFC President Dana White and a former US president. discussing Donald Trump, who was there in a sold-out crowd with Usman, Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Tyson, and others.
Throughout the battle, Ponzinibbio repeatedly kicked Holland in the legs. Before a hard left hook knocked Ponzinibbio to the ground in the third round, the Netherlands were obviously in pain.
With a unanimous decision victory in the bantamweight main card opener, Christian Rodriguez (9-1) handed Raul Rosas Jr. (7-1), the UFC’s youngest competitor at the age of 18, his first career defeat. After the fight, Rodriguez apologised for being one pound over the bantamweight limit at the weigh-ins (137 pounds).