UFC 287: Adesanya finally conquers Pereira in spectacular fashion

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It was the one bridge too far in the legendary career of Israel Adesanya until the Octagon rocked up to The Magic City. The curse of Alex Pereira no longer looms over The Last Stylebender as he destroyed his nemesis with a knockout for the ages, reclaiming his middleweight title in Miami. 

The New Zealander delivered a titanic overhand right late in the second stanza after another close duel between the former kickboxing rivals to avenge his defeat to the Brazilian last November, marking his first win out of four against Pereira in professional competition. 

It would be less sweeter for Miami's own Jorge Masvidal who appeared to bow out following a lopsided decision loss to surging welterweight contender Gilbert Burns in the co-main event.

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Rodriguez schools the prospect

Christian Rodriguez def. Raul Rosas Jr. via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Christian Rodriguez put the hype train of the youngest winner in UFC history on hold as he taught Raul Rosas Jr. a valuable lesson over three rounds in the main card opener.

Image: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images

18-year-old Rosas dived straight in at the hips of his opponent on the first bell although Rodriguez did a fine job in fending off the takedown, clinching against the cage while Rosas expelled a lot of effort in trying to take the fight to his realm. The Mexican-American was eventually able to secure the takedown and following some decent scramble attempts from Rodriguez, he would spend most of the round pursuing a rear-naked choke after securing the back. Rodriguez was able to see off the attempts and make it back to his corner.

Rosas Jr. had taxed his gas tank immensely with the first round efforts and it soon showed in the second stanza. An early takedown was fended off well with a knee to the body to go with it followed by short punches in the clinch. Rodriguez was then able to take control on the mat in side control and even came close with a rear-naked choke attempt. 

Going into the final round Rosas Jr. was clearly spent as he missed with some wild strike attempts. Rodriguez was once again able to secure a takedown and land some heavy ground-and-pound shots as he mounted the 18-year-old. Rosas Jr. could only cover up and try to save himself from further punishment in the compromised position. The two worked back to their feet to end the fight but the result was a formality by the final bell. It's a hard lesson learned at a great time for the young Rosas Jr.

Incredible effort by an 18 year old Raul Rosas Jr. Imagine being 18 and being on that stage. Lessons learned ad he’ll be back better next time.

— michael (@bisping) April 9, 2023

Trailblazer gets back on course

Kevin Holland def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via KO (left hook), round 3 (3:16)

"Trailblazer" is back on course. Kevin Holland returned to the win column in spectacular fashion, extinguishing Santiago Ponzinibbio with a devastating left hook in the final round. 

Kevin Holland doing Kevin Holland things 👊💥 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/7onz0Et16K

— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023

Ponzinibbio looked to negate the reach advantage with a steady diet of low kicks while Holland exploited his physical attributes with push kicks to keep him at bay. When the Argentine did trot forward with combinations, Holland was defensively sound as he rolled out the way or caught them on his gloves. The American then rattled off some jabs and punctuated the round with a knockdown as Ponzinibbio stood still after catching his kick and received a backfist sending him crashing down to the canvas in the final seconds of the first.

Ponzinibbio landed more low kicks in the following round that appeared to bother Holland, but he was able to land the more effective work once again with jabs and a hard right hand that hurt his opponent as he began to apply more pressure and up the work rate.

Ponzinibbio tried to produce something dramatic to change his fortunes but it would be to his detriment. Holland began to time the low kicks with checks and counters, and then caught a kick and as Ponzinibbio retreated he landed a fine left hook that faceplanted the Argentine as the referee rushed in to enforce the stoppage.

The real BMF- @Trailblaze2top pic.twitter.com/QqUvbOZiVw

— KOreps (@ko_reps) April 9, 2023

Font prevails in battle of bantamweight bombers 

Rob Font def. Adrian Yanez via TKO (punches), round 1 (2:57)

Fireworks were promised and they were delivered in just shy of three minutes as Rob Font obliterated Adrian Yanez to keep his name in the mix at the upper echelon of the bantamweight division.

Rob Font is that dude 😳 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/dygbB7PXyf

— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023

 

In what was essentially a boxing bout with MMA gloves and the occasional low attack, Font opened up with an overhand right and some jabs before Yanez came back with some one-twos of his own and bloodied his opponent early. Both would get rocked as they planted their feet and looked to unload on combinations before Font once again got behind his patented jab and did some damage. Yanez would be wobbled by a right uppercut as Font looked to tie up, and followed it up with some more combinations as he went on the retreat. A hard right hook would drop Yanez hard and some ground-and-pound would seal the deal for an electric victory.

King of Miami's homecoming ends in tears

Gilbert Burns def. Jorge Masvidal via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

It wasn't meant to be for the king of The 305 as Jorge Masvidal bowed out in a whitewash defeat to Gilbert Burns in the co-main event.

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"Durinho" was slow to start as "Gamebred" landed a string of low kicks in the first round, before the Brazilian got behind his jab and landed a hard one-two that stumbled the BMF. Masvidal responded with a right hand that was ate well before Burns finally level changed and secured a takedown, controlling his opponent in side control.

Burns came out with a vengeance in the second round, dropping Masvidal with a one-two. While the Miami native was able to pop back to his feet, Burns quickly changed levels and secured a slam takedown where he would spend time in the guard of Masvidal doing little. Masvidal was able to grind his way back up but was dragged down for most of the round, until the final moments where they got back to their feet and Gamebred landed a bodykick before his opponent responded with a counter right.

Down on the scorecards, Masvidal showed the intent to swing the fight in his favour with some low kicks while his power shots failed to land clean. Burns meanwhile landed further jabs and a hard one-two that had Masvidal badly hurt. Some more right hands followed with the writing on the wall as the home favourite was wobbled against the cage wall. Burns would get a trip takedown and spent the remaining moments on top control to prevent any miraculous last minute comeback victories.

Stylebender conquers his biggest demon

Israel Adesanya def. Alex Pereira via KO (punch), round 2 (4:21)

The looming ghost that is Alex Pereira no longer haunts The Last Stylebender after Israel Adesanya produced one of the most incredible knockouts in UFC history to conquer his biggest foe and reclaim the middleweight throne.

Image: Getty Images

High-level kickboxing was on the agenda as the duo exchanged calf kicks early, before the Kiwi landed a jab and overhand right that glanced over the side of the Brazilian's dome. After a couple of body kicks from Adesanya, Pereira began to tot up the calf kicks which were instrumental to his success in their meeting last year. Adesanya would switch to southpaw where he landed a straight left down the pipe to close out a close first stanza - Pereira enjoyed success with his low kicks while Adesanya was able to land some clean punches and control the distance.

Image: Chandan Khanna / AFP / Getty Images

Intensity continued to ooze out of the former champion knowing the task he had ahead of him, landing a low kick, question mark kick and front kick early in the second frame. The dangers of Pereira were potent though as he reminded his previously vanquished opponent of his dangers, backing Adesanya up against the fence and landing a hard left hook. Stylebender kept his composure and ate the shot well before coming back with some firepower of his own, landing a right hand on the temple of "Poatan". But when it came down to the power contest, Pereira appeared superior with a hard jab while adding up more calf kicks to both legs throughout the round. Adesanya's body kicks were finding the mark and he wasn't hesitant to plant his feet and stand in the pocket, clipping his foe with a left hook followed by a combination with two hooks to the body. Warning sirens would signal for Adesanya however when he was buckled by yet another calf kick and was forced to retreat. He would cover up against the fence inviting Pereira to deliver an onslaught with some hooks and a knee up the middle. With the Brazilian now open, Adesanya unleashed a thunderous right hand that stopped Pereira in his tracks momentarily, and when the champion came back in for more, he received another crushing right hand that would sent him crashing to the canvas - with a left hook for good measure. As the unconscious, frozen Pereira flopped to the canvas, Adesanya delivered a final hammerfist for good measure as the referee waved off the contest late in the second round. 

It was a glorious moment of poetic vindication for the former long reigning king and now incumbent middleweight sovereign. A gesture of a trio of bow arrows delivered to his lifeless opponent in the aftermath was proceeded by jubilant celebrations and a post-fight speech for the ages. 

"People, Earth I need to say something. I hope everyone of you can feel this level of happiness just one time in your life," he exclaimed to the camera. "But guess what, you will never feel this level of happiness if you don't go for something," the champion declared as he once again scaled the summit at 185 pounds. 

“I don’t throw and hope, I aim and fire!” - Me 🏹 pic.twitter.com/jYCReHrrMk

— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) April 9, 2023

Adesanya has now beaten every fighter ranked in the top five of the UFC's middleweight division.

The king of the middleweights has returned 👑 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/FZRJETxyPV

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 9, 2023