Israel Adesanya wished a fast rematch after a November loss to Alex Pereira stripped him of the 185-pound championship belt he’d held since 2019.
5 months later in UFC 287 in Miami early Sunday, Adesanya dropped the middleweight champion Pereira with two proper arms, then raised his fists in triumph as he took again his middleweight championship belt and cemented his legacy as one of many biggest fighters within the sport’s historical past.
“I hope each one in every of you behind the display screen or on this area can really feel this stage of happiness only one time in your life,” Adesanya stated. “However guess what, you’ll by no means really feel this stage of happiness if you happen to don’t go for one thing.”
Pereira (7-2) landed a knee that pushed Adesanya (24-2) into the cage within the second spherical. Adesanya got here off the cage with two proper hooks and a proper hammer fist, adopted by floor and pound to finish the struggle at 4:21.
The 35-year-old Pereira had by no means misplaced to Adesanya. Earlier than he scored a TKO win for the welterweight belt in UFC 281 in November, Pereira defeated Adesanya twice in kick boxing.
Adesanya, born in Nigeria however raised in New Zealand, entered the UFC in 2018 and gained the middleweight belt a 12 months later when he beat then-champion Robert Whittaker in a shocking knockout.
He efficiently defended his title 5 occasions as he turned one of many sport’s major attracts. He was in unfamiliar territory Saturday because the challenger.
“They are saying revenge is good,” Adesanya stated. “And if you already know me, I’ve received a candy tooth.”
“I don’t throw and hope, I intention and hearth!” – Me 🏹 pic.twitter.com/jYCReHrrMk
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) April 9, 2023
Preventing in his hometown because the UFC returned to Miami for the primary time in 20 years, Jorge Masvidal (35-17) misplaced a unanimous resolution to fifth-ranked welterweight contender Gilbert Burns (22-5).
Burns harm Masvidal with a collection of head photographs, and Masvidal appeared winded because the struggle went on. Afterward, Burns paid respect to the veteran Masvidal.
“We’re right here due to this man, 52 professional fights,” Burns stated to the group, which chanted “Let’s go Jorge” all through. “Give it up to your man.”
Masvidal, who turns 39 in November, entered the match on a three-fight dropping streak having misplaced back-to-back title challenges to Kamaru Usman and a unanimous resolution to longtime rival Colby Covington.
Masvidal appeared to retire from the game after the loss.
“It’s been an extended 20 years, 50-something fights,” stated Masvidal, who entered the UFC in 2013. “Typically your favourite basketball participant doesn’t have that three-pointer no extra. Your favourite quarterback loses that rifle. And I don’t really feel the identical once I get in right here.”
Veteran Rob Font (20-6) snapped Adrian Yanez’s (16-3) nine-fight successful streak with a knockout at 2:57 within the first spherical. They traded photographs early earlier than Font landed a strong proper hook that dropped Yanez. Font, who returned to pay-per-view for the primary time in 5 years, completed the struggle with floor and pound.
“It’s been some time since I received a end,” Font stated. “I wanted this end for myself. I wanted it for my crew. I wanted it for my household.”
Kevin Holland (23-9) face planted Santiago Ponzinibbio (30-7) with an enormous left hand at 3:16 of the ultimate spherical of their welterweight bout, then jumped over the cage to speak to UFC president Dana White and former U.S. president Donald Trump, who have been in a offered out crowd that featured Usman, Los Angeles Rams defensive deal with Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Tyson and extra.
Ponzinibbio nailed a collection of kicks to Holland’s legs all through the struggle. Holland was visibly in ache by the third spherical earlier than a strong left hook despatched Ponzinibbio face-first into the mat.
Christian Rodriguez (9-1) handed 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. (7-1), the UFC’s youngest fighter, his first profession loss with a unanimous resolution win within the bantamweight main-card opener. In weigh-ins, Rodriguez was 137 kilos, one pound over the bantamweight restrict, and he apologized instantly after the struggle.
“Very first thing’s first, I wish to apologize for being a pound obese to the UFC and to Raul’s crew,” Rodriguez stated. ___