''UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2'' was a

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

event produced by the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

that took place on April 8, 2023, at the

Kaseya Center Kaseya Center is a multi-purpose arena on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. The arena is home to the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association. The arena was previously named American Airlines Arena from opening in 1999 until 2021, FTX ...

Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

, United States.

Background

The event marked the promotion's second visit to Miami and first since

UFC 42 ''UFC 42: Sudden Impact'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 25, 2003, at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and later rele ...

in April 2003. A

UFC Middleweight Championship Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight class ...

rematch between current champion

Alex Pereira Alex Sandro Silva Pereira (born 7 July 1987) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former professional kickboxer. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is ...

(also former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion) and former champion

Israel Adesanya Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya (born 22 July 1989) is a Nigerian-New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, former kickboxer and boxer. As a mixed martial artist, he currently competes in the Middleweight di ...

headlined the event. The pairing previously met at

UFC 281 ''UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on November 12, 2022, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. Background A UFC Middle ...

in which Pereira captured the title by fifth-round knockout. The two also previously met twice in kickboxing matchups: the first in April 2016 at

Glory of Heroes 1 Glory may refer to: Honor and renown * Glory (honor), high renown, praise, and honor obtained by notable achievements * '' Kleos'', the Greek word for "glory", often translated to "renown" (what others hear about you) Arts and entertainment Fict ...

, which Pereira won by unanimous decision, and their second at Glory of Heroes 7 in March 2017, which Pereira won by third-round knockout. Nikolas Motta was expected to face

Ignacio Bahamondes Ignacio Antonio Bahamondes Carabantes (born August 27, 1997) is a Chilean professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is also the former LUX Fight League l ...

in a lightweight bout. However, Motta pulled out in late March due to a cut on his head. He was replaced by Trey Ogden at a catchweight of 160 pounds. A welterweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter: Live lightweight winner

Michael Chiesa Michael Keith Chiesa (; born December 7, 1987) is an American professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and sports analyst who currently competes in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship ( ...

and

Li Jingliang Li Jingliang ( Chinese: 李景亮; pinyin: Lǐ Jǐngliàng; born March 20, 1988) is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Originally from a small town near Tac ...

was expected to take place at the event. However, Li withdrew from the bout due to a back injury and the bout was scrapped.

Chris Barnett Christopher James Barnett (born June 14, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Barnett was born in Zaragoza, Spain, where his father ...

was expected to face

Chase Sherman Chase Sherman (born November 16, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist and former bare-knuckle boxer. A professional MMA competitor since 2014, he has competed for the UFC and Titan FC. Background Born and raised in D'Ibervi ...

in a heavyweight bout. However, Barnett pulled out due to undisclosed reasons in early April and was replaced by Karl Williams. In turn, Sherman withdrew the day of the event due to a medical issue and the bout was scrapped. At the weigh-ins, Christian Rodriguez weighed in at 137 pounds, one pound over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20% of his purse which went to his opponent Raul Rosas Jr. During the event's broadcast, it was announced that a

UFC Welterweight Championship Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight clas ...

bout that took place in July 2015 at

UFC 189 ''UFC 189: Mendes vs. McGregor'' was a mixed martial arts event held on July 11, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Background The event took place during the UFC's annual International Fight Week. The event was expected t ...

between then champion

Robbie Lawler Robert Glenn Lawler (born March 20, 1982) is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed between 2001 and 2023. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion, former EliteXC Middleweight Champion, and has formerly competed in ...

and challenger Rory MacDonald was the next "fight wing"

UFC Hall of Fame The UFC Hall of Fame is a List of halls and walks of fame, hall of fame which honors mixed martial artists and MMA personalities, established and maintained by the U.S.-based mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In a ...

inductee. Lawler defended the title via fifth-round TKO. It was also a rematch of a November 2013 fight in which Lawler also won (via split decision).

Results

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses. *Fight of the Night: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis *Performance of the Night: Israel Adesanya and Rob Font

References

{{2023 in mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship flagship events 2023 in UFC 2023 in sports in Florida April 2023 sports events in the United States Mixed martial arts in Florida Sports competitions in Miami

Background

Results

Bonus awards

See also

References