At UFC 287 in Miami, Israel Adesanya successfully defended his title by viciously knocking out Alex Pereira late in the second round.
The boxer, who was born in Nigeria but was raised in New Zealand, lost his title to the Brazilian in November of last year, but when he was backed up against the cage, he pulled off a stunning knockout that, in his post-fight interview, he said: “came from the gods.”
Pereira targeted Adesanya’s right calf, just like he did in their previous UFC encounter, as both fighters were cautious in the opening round.
In the second round, they engaged in an aggressive exchange of punches while standing toe to toe. Nevertheless, it was when Adesanya was up against the cage and taking body shots that he unloaded two powerful right-hand blows that first shocked Pereira and then brought him to the ground.
Adensaya stated, “I switched up the strategies a little, listened to my corner, and followed my hunch.”
When Pereira was on the mat, the 33-year-old then launched a hammer fist, but the referee swiftly stopped the fight before he could land a second.
Adesanya reclaimed his middleweight title belt after winning by simulating firing three arrows into his downed opponent.
Adensaya continued, “I don’t keep score; I settle them, and it’s settled now.”
Gilbert Burns outclassed Jorge Masvidal in the co-main event, winning by majority decision in the welterweight division.
Masvidal would go on to announce his retirement from the sport following the fight, making it his final contest in the UFC. He engaged in 52 fights, winning 35 of them by knockout on 18 occasions.
Rob Font used a devastating right hook in the first round to stop Adrian Yanez in the bantamweight division.
Earlier on the card, Christian Rodriguez defeated Raul Rosas Jr. by decision in the bantamweight class after a three-round fight, and Kevin Holland stopped Santiago Ponzinibbio in the third round of their welterweight fight with a left hook to the jaw.
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