"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How did Strickland defeat Adesanya?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The main catalyst for Adesanya's loss, of course, was Strickland's fantastic yet remarkably simple game plan. The American, who was thought to have a solid grappling advantage in the matchup, did not shoot for a single takedown and instead beat the champion up with a rudimentary boxing attack for 25 grueling minutes."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much did Israel Adesanya make in his last fight?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Israel Adesanya reportedly earned a whopping $3,180,000 from his UFC 287 bout against his archrival Alex Pereira. The payouts included a $2 million PPV share, a $32,000 sponsorship share, a $50,000 performance bonus, and a $1 million base pay. Most fans know that the bout ended in 'The Last Stylebender's' favor."}}]}}

UFC 281 results, highlights: Alex Pereira rallies to stun, knockout Israel Adesanya and claim title (2024)

The Brazilian was in desperate need of a finish before finding it in the final moments of the main event

By Shakiel Mahjouri

1 min read

UFC 281 results, highlights: Alex Pereira rallies to stun, knockout Israel Adesanya and claim title (2)

Alex Pereira is the only person to knock out Israel Adesanya – and he's done it twice.

Pereira scored a come-from-behind victory against Adesanya at UFC 281 on Saturday night to become the new UFC middleweight champion inside Madison Square Garden.

The fight will be a bitter pill for Adesanya to swallow. Similar to their two kickboxing fights, Adesanya was winning the contest until he wasn't. Adesanya nearly added to UFC 281's seven first-round stoppages with a one-two that had Pereira in all sorts of trouble. Adesanya's devastating shot came in the final second of Round 1, but he did not have the time necessary to capitalize. Pereira's corner was panicked in their efforts to get their fighter's head straight.

Pereira bounced back well in Round 2. It was a competitive, if unspectacular, round that likely went in the challenger's favor. Adesanya scored the first takedown of his 14-fight UFC career in Round 3 and decisively controlled Pereira for the remainder of the round. Adesanya fatigued Pereira with pressure, ground-and-pound and a pretty axe-kick at the end of Round 3.

Pereira was noticeably labored in Round 4 and his output was severely limited. Adesanya was defensively sound, picking away at his opponent in a round that was clearly his. Pereira's corner implored him to find the finish in Round 5, aware that Adesanya likely had a 3-1 lead on the judges' scorecards. The UFC broadcast confirmed post-fight that Adesanya was up on all three judges' scorecards heading into the final frame.

Pereira answered the call, blitzed Adesanya and rocked him with heavy shots against the fence. Adesanya desperately bobbed and weaved but ate uppercuts and other big shots until the referee intervened.

Adesanya immediately protested the stoppage by referee Marc Goddard, but the now former champion was content with the result when speaking with the media after the fact.

"I'm grateful," Adesanya said. "What a life, what a moment. F---ing crazy, isn't it? Similar to the last time, same story. It's crazy. I was fine. First thing I said to [coach Eugene Bareman] or the ref, I was fine because I was still lucid. I was in there, but s--- happens.

"No, I talked to my coaches [about the stoppage] and I trust them.But I was fine, I could see everything. My eyes might have rolled back a little bit, but I was lucid."

Pereira thanked his teammates for the victory and told UFC commentator Joe Rogan through a translator that he had been working just as hard in camp as he had in this fight. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira, Pereira's primary training partner, told the commentators later of a conversation he had with Pereira between the fourth and fifth rounds.

"'Do I have to knock him out?'" Pereira asked Teixeira. "You better knock him out," Teixeira replied.

Pereira (7-1) captured the UFC middleweight championship in just his fourth UFC fight. Adesanya (23-2) managed five title defenses as middleweight champion and held the undisputed crown since October 2019.

Can't get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business.Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including instant analysis of UFC 281 at the conclusion of the PPV event below.

Elsewhere on the card, Zhang Weili regained her crown as women's strawweight champion with a second-round submission of Carla Esparza. Weili dominated the grappling exchanges before locking up the rear-naked choke. Weili, Esparza and Rose Namajunas have now traded the belt among themselves in the last three fights. And Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler delivered an action-classic before Poirier secured the late submission.

CBS Sports was be with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC 281 below.

UFC 281 card and results

  • Alex Pereira def. Israel Adesanya (c) via fifth-round TKO (punches)
  • Weili Zhang def. Carla Esparza (c)via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
  • Dustin Poirier def. Michael Chandler via third-round submission (rear-naked choke)
  • Chris Gutierrez def. Frankie Edgar via first-round knockout (knee)
  • Dan Hooker def. Claudio Puelles via second-round knockout (body kick)
  • Renato Moicano def. Brad Riddell via first-round submission (rear naked choke)
  • Ryan Spann def. Dominick Reyes via first-round knockout (punch)
  • Erin Blanchfield def. Molly McCann via first-round submission (kimura)
  • Andre Petroski def. Wellington Turman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Matt Frevola def. Ottman Azaitar via first-round knockout (punch)
  • Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Silvana Gomez Juarez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Michael Trizano def. Choi Seung-woo via first-round TKO (punches)
  • Montel Jackson def. Julio Arce via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Carlos Ulberg def. Nicolae Negumereanu via first-round TKO (punches)

Updates

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 5: Adesanya opens the round trying to clinch and hold as the champion knows he's likely up on the scorecards, but Pereira continues to pour forward. Pereira lands a pair of hooks that knocks Adesanya off his feet. Pereira continues to follow up with massive punches as Adesanya holds on for dear life. A final set of hooks and the referee waves it off! Alex Pereira wins the middleweight title with a fifth-round knockout!

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 4: Pereira musters little offense as the round expires and Adesanya continues to dictate the pace. Pereira likely needs a finish in the final round here to become champion. 10-9 Adesanya, (39-37 Adesanya)

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 3: Nice scrambling between the two behemoths as Adesanya looks to stay in control on top. Pereira lands one nice elbow from the bottom, but Adesanya is in control here from full guard. He works to his feet and invites Pereira to try and get up. Adesanya throws an axekick from the top as the bell sounds that lands decently. 10-9 Adesanya, (29-28 Adesanya)

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 3: Adesanya now takes control in the round with a big takedown, he's working to take Pereira's back and raining down some punches that are partially blocked. He stays in position, however, and keeps Pereira pinned against the fence. He's making Pereira carry all his weight.

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 2:Pereira lands well and puts Adesanya back on his heels once more, but Adesanya lands a strong counter right that gets Pereira's attention. Adesanya pushes him into the cage to grapple before they break off and Pereira lands a solid head kick. Pereira scores the takedown just before the bell. 10-9 Pereira, 19-19 overall

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 2:Adesanya tries to keep the pressure on after knowing the damage he did in the final moments, but Pereira defends well and keeps the pressure on Adesanya. He lands a solid left hand that sends Adesanya's head flying back.

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 1: For all the talk of making this a mixed martial arts fight from Adesanya this week, the first round was decidedly all kickboxing. No takedown attempts or clinch exchanges, just trading at distance with punches and kicks until the last 30 seconds as Pereira entered against the cage. And just as the first round ends, Adesanya lands a pair of massive hooks that visibly rock Pereira! He's on wobbly legs back in his corner. 10-9 Adesanya

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 1: Adesanya lands a nice counter straight that knocks Pereira off balance momentarily. He recovers well and continues to push forward and control the pace of the fight as Adesanya counters on the outside.

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Adesanya vs. Pereira -- Round 1:Pereira opens with a jumping knee that misses the mark. Adesanya goes to work with the low calf kick that Pereira is yet to check. Pereira seems content to let it go and head hunt early.

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And now, it's time for the main event! Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya puts the title on the line against Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden. The story has been told all week long about how Pereira beat Adesanya twice in kickboxing, but as the champ has said ... this is mixed martial arts. How will the contrasting styles play out this time, especially with Pereira only fighting for the sixth time under this rule set. It's about to get real interesting, folks. Buckle up!

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UFC 281 results, highlights: Alex Pereira rallies to stun, knockout Israel Adesanya and claim title (3)

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UFC 281 results, highlights: Alex Pereira rallies to stun, knockout Israel Adesanya and claim title (2024)

FAQs

How did Adesanya lose his title? ›

Adesanya was beaten in a lopsided decision by American Sean Strickland, who stymied his Kiwi adversary on his way to the win - all three judges scoring the fight 49-46 in his favour.

How many title defenses does Israel Adesanya have in the UFC? ›

Adesanya dropped the middleweight belt to Strickland last September but remains a UFC legend with a 24-3 record and five successful middleweight title defenses.

Who won the rematch between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira? ›

STYLEBENDER GOT HIS BELT BACK! 🏆 Israel Adesanya KNOCKS OUT Alex Pereira in the rematch at #UFC287!

Who won the fight between Israel and Adesanya? ›

Strickland serve Adesanya wit constant pressure and steady upright boxing to deliver a unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya.

Why has Ngannou lost his title? ›

UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, has been stripped of his title and released from his contract after failing to accept a new contract offer.

Who dropped Adesanya? ›

Strickland dropped Adesanya in the first round with a right hand.

What is Alex Pereira's UFC record? ›

Alex Pereira Record: 11-2-0
W/LFighterStr
winAlex Pereira Jamahal Hill24 12
winAlex Pereira Jiri Prochazka38 30
winAlex Pereira Jan Blachowicz70 52
lossAlex Pereira Israel Adesanya49 41
6 more rows

How many times did Adesanya and Pereira fight? ›

Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira had a fiery feud in the ring and in the cage, but outside it's all love. After two kickboxing matches and one UFC title fight, Adesanya finally defeated Pereira at UFC 287 in April 2023 to regain the middleweight championship and earn his first win in their four-fight series.

How many times has Israel Adesanya lost a fight? ›

Israel Adesanya, a legend of the UFC middleweight circuit, conceded his title to Sean Strickland at the UFC 293 main event on September 10 in Sydney. Adesanya suffered only his third defeat in an illustrious career as Strickland earned his hands on the championship for the first time.

How did Pereira lose to Adesanya? ›

Adesanya said afterward that he was playing possum. He countered with a massive right hand that hurt Pereira, then followed up with another right and a left hook that put Pereira down. Adesanya put a stamp on the victory with a hammerfist as referee Dan Miragliotta pulled him away and stopped the fight.

Is Adesanya retired? ›

After competing in eleven UFC title fights since April 2019, former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is pressing the pause button on his MMA career. The 34-year-old made it clear that retirement isn't in the cards for him at this point in his career, but he did say that his active schedule has taken its toll.

How rich is Israel Adesanya? ›

Career Earnings and Net Worth

As of January 2024, Israel Adesanya's estimated net worth is $6 million, a substantial increase from the previously reported $4 million. Adesanya's primary source of wealth is his career as a professional MMA fighter, including his fight earnings, PPV points, and endorsement deals.

Who owns UFC? ›

How did Strickland defeat Adesanya? ›

The main catalyst for Adesanya's loss, of course, was Strickland's fantastic yet remarkably simple game plan. The American, who was thought to have a solid grappling advantage in the matchup, did not shoot for a single takedown and instead beat the champion up with a rudimentary boxing attack for 25 grueling minutes.

How much did Israel Adesanya make in his last fight? ›

Israel Adesanya reportedly earned a whopping $3,180,000 from his UFC 287 bout against his archrival Alex Pereira. The payouts included a $2 million PPV share, a $32,000 sponsorship share, a $50,000 performance bonus, and a $1 million base pay. Most fans know that the bout ended in 'The Last Stylebender's' favor.

How did Adesanya lose to Sean Strickland? ›

A sizeable favorite heading into his title defense against Strickland at UFC 293, Adesanya took the second round on all three scorecards but lost every other round en route to a lopsided unanimous decision that cost him his middleweight belt.

How long did Adesanya have the title? ›

Adesanya's reign as UFC middleweight champion was a long one as it lasted a total of 1134 days and saw him successfully defend his title on five occasions over Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Vettori, Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier, before losing it to Alex Pereira.

Who did Poirier lose his title to? ›

Dustin Poirier vs.

Justin Gaethje took place at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, for the symbolic BMF title. Poirier was knocked out cold by Gaethje in the second round with the help of a head kick. This was Poirier's eighth professional loss.

How many times did Adesanya lose? ›

Speaking mixed martial arts, Israel Adesanya holds a professional MMA record of 24 victories and three defeats.

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