Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira are set to face off in the main event of UFC 287 on Saturday, April 9th, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This highly anticipated bout is a rematch between the two fighters, with Adesanya aiming to reclaim the UFC middleweight title that he lost to Pereira last November.
The fight between Adesanya and Pereira is not only significant because of the UFC title on the line, but also because it marks the fourth meeting between the two fighters. Adesanya and Pereira first faced off in a kickboxing match in 2016, with Adesanya winning by unanimous decision. Pereira won the second bout between the two fighters in 2017, also a kickboxing match. The two fighters then met in the Glory kickboxing promotion in 2018, with Adesanya winning by unanimous decision.
The fourth meeting between the two fighters will take place in the octagon, and Adesanya has made it clear that he expects it to be the last. At the weigh-ins, Adesanya was asked what the rematch means to him, to which he responded, “Everything. Tomorrow, it’s one and done.”
Pereira, on the other hand, was more brief in his comments, taking a shot at Adesanya’s dog collar that he has been wearing in public since media day this past Wednesday. Pereira said, “I’ve said everything I’ve had to say. All I’m going to say to you is tomorrow I’m just going to take his collar off and I’m going to take him out, just like a dog.”
The co-main event of UFC 287 features a welterweight contenders’ bout between Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns. Masvidal, a Miami favorite, has been in high spirits all week and has promised that his hometown will have plenty to celebrate after he and Burns throw down.
“Bring your pots and pans in Miami, how we do, we’re going to hit the streets and mob out, all the goons,” Masvidal said. “Light the sky up like 4th of July. I’m gonna knock you out, I’m just telling you right now. Nothing personal, but I’ve got to knock your ass out.”
When it was Burns’ turn to speak, the crowd loudly booed him, but Burns welcomed the energy and warned that he would kill Masvidal’s boy. “I love it,” Burns said. “Keep that same energy. I’m going to kill your boy tomorrow, let’s go!”
The weigh-in faceoffs for both the main and co-main events were intense and heated, with both Adesanya and Pereira, as well as Masvidal and Burns, exchanging words and stares.
Fans can expect an exciting night of fights at UFC 287, with the main and co-main events promising to deliver highly anticipated bouts between skilled and competitive fighters.
