Welcome to information.com.au’s dwell protection of UFC 287.
Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira will sq. off in Miami for the middleweight title in a hotly anticipated rematch between two of the most effective fighters the UFC has seen.
Watch UFC 287: Pereira v Adesanya 2 LIVE on Essential Occasion accessible on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday April 9 from 12pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
Pereira surprised the MMA world final November when he beat Adesanya by TKO, taking the Kiwi’s belt and handing him his first ever loss in UFC at middleweight. That is Pereira’s first title defence.
He beforehand beat Adesanya twice in kickboxing fights, and Adesanya is decided to win their UFC rematch to show the Brazilian doesn’t have his quantity.
Gilbert Burns can also be taking up Jorge Masvidal within the welterweight co-main occasion.
The primary card will get underway at 12pm (AEST). Adesanya and Pereira are anticipated to enter the octagon round 2pm (AEST), relying on how lengthy the sooner fights final.
Buy the pay-per-view right here.
Brutal warfare the ‘struggle of the 12 months’
Within the final of the prelim fights, Kelvin Gastelum defeated Chris Curtis by way of unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) in an epic middleweight scrap that’s already been known as the struggle of the 12 months.
In his first struggle in 18 months, No. 13 middleweight contender Gastelum absorbed some heavy blows from Curtis however was the higher over the three rounds.
“That is the most effective model of Kelvin, that is once we see Kelvin the world title contender,” Joe Rogan stated in commentary.
“This feels higher than any win he’s had after the time he’s had away,” Daniel Cormier added.
UFC author Daniel Yanofsky described it as a “struggle of the night time/struggle of the 12 months candidate”.
‘Drake curse’ threatens to strike once more
Canadian rapper Drake may have followers of Israel Adesanya apprehensive after he put an enormous wager on him to beat Pereira.
Drake has wagered a complete of $900,000 on Adesanya to reclaim his middleweight title and for him to do it by way of a knockout.
He’s additionally wager a complete of $500,000 on Jorge Masvidal to beat Gilbert Burns by way of KO.
Drake shared his wagers in an Instagram submit captioned: “Off the leash”.
The rapper has an extended historical past of betting big quantities of cash on sporting occasions, however his poor conversion charge has turn out to be often known as the ‘Drake Curse’.
For Adesanya and Masvidal’s sake, right here’s hoping the curse doesn’t strike once more.
Adesanya determined to win again belt
Israel Adesanya has claimed underdog standing however is adamant he can defeat Pereira for the primary time ever and win again the middleweight belt he owned for therefore lengthy.
“Not many individuals get the chance to indicate how nice they’re, to rise to the event when all the chances are stoked in opposition to them and persons are counting them out,” Adesanya stated earlier this week.
“And for me, this struggle, I really feel just like the underdog. I really feel like everyone seems to be counting me out. I really feel like due to the results of the final struggle, goldfish reminiscence. They forgot what I’ve executed on this sport. It’s time to remind folks how nice I’m.”
MAIN CARD
Alex Pereira vs Israel Adesanya (middleweight title struggle)
Gilbert Burns vs Jorge Masvidal (welterweight)
Rob Font vs Adrian Yanez (bantamweight)
Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio (welterweight)
Raul Rosas JR vs Christian Rodriguez (bantamweight)
PRELIMS
Kelvin Gastelum def Chris Curtis by way of unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Luana Pinheiro def Michelle Waterson by way of break up choice (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Joe Pyfer def Gerald Meerschaert by way of first-round TKO (punches)
Crazy Godinez def Cynthia Calvillo by way of break up choice (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Ignacio Bahamondes def Trey Ogden by way of unanimous choice (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Steve Garcia def Shayilan Nuerdanbieke by way of second-round TKO (strikes)
Sam Hughes def Jaqueline Amorim by way of unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
