Welcome to information.com.au’s reside protection of the monster UFC 281 card.
One of the vital hyped playing cards of 2022, Israel Adesanya is placing his middleweight belt up in opposition to former kick-boxing rival Alex Pereira at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
The Brazilian has been a freak of nature in his latest run of six wins, together with 5 by knockout.
Watch UFC 281: Adesanya v Pereira LIVE on Major Occasion out there on Foxtel & Kayo Sports activities, Sunday 13 November from 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
Regardless of this, UFC legend Conor McGregor has dismissed the Brazilian fighter’s probabilities of defeating Adesanya.
McGregor bluntly posted on Twitter and Instagram: “Adesanya wins tonight”.
Pereira famously defeated Adesanya on two events of their earlier kick-boxing bouts — and handed Adesanya the one knockout lack of his profession.
Adesanya is aiming to defend his title for the sixth time and has held the belt since his win at UFC 236 in April, 2019.
Protection of the UFC 281 pay-per-view will get underway on Sunday at 2pm (AEDT). The principle preliminary card begins from 12pm on Foxtel and Kayo.
Aussie formally will get his want for ‘tremendous battle’
The UFC has introduced Alexander Volkanovski will battle Islam Makhachev in a blockbuster showdown to be held in Perth at UFC 284 on February 12.
The Aussie has been campaigning for a chance to maneuver as much as the light-weight division and battle for Makhachev’s belt.
Makhachev and his coach, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, referred to as out Volkanovski following the Russian’s win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 and the pair shook arms within the octagon, verbally agreeing to battle one another for the light-weight belt.
A battle between Makhachev and Volkanovski is a mouth-watering prospect and victory would make sure the Australian not solely attains uncommon double champ standing, however goes down as the most effective fighters the UFC has ever seen.
“I believe it’s good for him to cement his title as the most effective,” stated New Zealand UFC fighter Brad Riddell about Volkanovski’s transfer this week.
“Clearly he’s the perfect featherweight and the most effective featherweights there’ll ever be, and if he can grow to be the ‘champ champ’, solely (Conor) McGregor did that from that division.
“He’s going to do one thing, which is all people’s objective on this sport, to be distinctive and do issues different individuals can’t do or battle to do.”
Riddell is preventing Renato Moicano on the UFC 281 undercard.
Spicy historical past between Adesanya and Pereira
Pereira has made no secret he has ben gunning for Adesanya ever because the champion fired a shot at him greater than two years in the past.
Pereira’s historical past of twice defeating Adesanya in kick-boxing makes the battle private for Adesanya. It is usually very private for Pereira.
Adesanya stated in an interview in 2000: “I’ve by no means ever watched any of his fights, ever.
“On the finish of the day, nobody is aware of who the f*** he’s, and he’s going to be that man after I’m world champion and after I’m a legend, he’s going to be at some pub speaking s*** about ‘I beat that man one time.’”
Adesanya stated not too long ago this battle is about his “legacy”.
“With out me, he wouldn’t be right here,” he stated.
“With out me, he would’ve been uncovered a very long time in the past. I cleared the best way.
“I cleared the division, so there was not likely anybody else to battle. I cleared the best way for him to get to the highest.
“It’s private. That is about me and my legacy.
“That is about re-writing historical past regardless that it’s historical past and I by no means chased this.
“That is about me re-writing a brand new path in historical past and simply displaying individuals what I can actually do, as a result of, once more, ya’ll will need to have forgot.”
UFC 281 Major Card
Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira (middleweight)
Carla Esparza vs Weili Zhang (strawweight
Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler (light-weight)
Prelims
Brad Riddell vs Renato Moicano (light-weight)
Dominick Reyes vs Ryan Spann (mild heavyweight)
Erin Blancfield vs Molly McCann (flyweight)
