Israel Adesanya of New Zealand lost his UFC middleweight title in the main event of UFC 281 to his old rival Alex Pereira via TKO in the fifth round.
After losing the title and appearing in the MMA Hour show, The Last Styleblender expressed his desire to fight the Brazilian again to settle his previous debt, and the Nigerian-born fighter also cited that he would fight twice even after the rematch.
“I’ll watch the fight again. I haven’t watched the fight again, but I don’t think I’m going to fixate on it, because it’s not one of these things that’s like, ‘Oh, goddamn it!’ I’ll fight him again. I’ll probably fight him two more times.”
ALEX PEREIRA JUST FINISHED ISRAEL ADESANYA!!! 😱
AND NEWWWWWWW!!! 🏆#UFC281 pic.twitter.com/ke79appLEU
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) November 13, 2022
Pereira also had the same wish to take down Adesanya again,
“I’ll fight him, that’s no problem. If there are two guys. Adesanya and some other guy, I’d pick Adesanya, if I’m being honest. I’m not picking another guy just not to give Adesanya the chance. If he really wants it, then he’s next.”
And now the official announcement of this duo facing each other came to daylight as UFC president Dana White announced that Adesanya and Pereira will square off against each other at the main event of UFC 287.
UFC 287 will take place on April 8, 2023, in Miami, but the venue has not been announced yet.
Announced lineups of UFC 287
ABSOLUTELY STACKED 🚨@DanaWhite announces the full lineup for #UFC287 in April and it's HUGE! pic.twitter.com/0kPaRTCABA
— UFC (@ufc) January 27, 2023
Middleweight title bout:
Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya
Welterweight bout:
Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal
Welterweight bout:
Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Bantamweight bout:
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez
Bantamweight bout:
Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
Middleweight bout:
Gerald Meerschaert vs. Joe Pyfer
Featherweight bout:
Shayilan Nuerdanbieke vs. Steve Garcia
Lightweight bout:
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta
Middleweight bout:
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis
Women’s Strawweight bout:
Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lupita Godinez
Women’s Strawweight bout:
Michelle Waterson vs. Luana Pinheiro
