UFC 281 results: Pereira claims middleweight belt with fifth-round TKO of Israel Adesanya
Izzy #Izzy
Greg Rosenstein
November 13, 2022 at 1:20 AM EST
Alex Pereira defeated Israel Adesanya via fifth-round TKO to claim the middleweight belt on Saturday at UFC 281 in New York City. Pereira, who also owns two kickboxing victories over Adesanya, improved to 7-1 in mixed martial arts.
Heading into the fifth round, Pereira was likely down three rounds to one on judges scorecards and needed a finish. He got just that after he landed a left hook that stunned the champion and followed with a hard combination of punches. Referee Marc Goddard, seeing Adesanya wobbled after multiple shots connected, stepped in to stop the bout 2:01 into the final round.
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
November 13, 2022 at 1:20 AM EST
Glover Teixeira reacts to his training partner’s win Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 1:13 AM EST
Full scorecard for Izzy-Pereira Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:58 AM EST
Pereira 5th round TKO!
Straight right stunned him and then follwoed with an upper cut. He started throwing haymakers that eventually put Izzy out. We have a new champion!
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:54 AM EST
Round 4
Leg kick by Izzy. Jab by Izzy followed by a right hook. Champ starting to open up a bit and seems very confident. Pereira seems very tired. Body shot by Izzy. Left jab lands for Adesanya. After a clinch, Izzy connects on a big right hook. Pereira seems to have almost taken this round off. He’s exhausted.
39-37 Izzy.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:47 AM EST
Round 3
Izzy lands a right. Knee to the body for Pereira. Adesanya gets the takedown and has Pereira’s back. Ground-and-pound for the champ. Pereira is trying to get up but Izzy is all over him. Pereira’s ear is bleeding as Adesanya throws hard punches down. A scramble on the mat and Adesanya is in half guard for more ground-and-pound. Axe kick by Izzy!
29-28 Izzy.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:41 AM EST
Round 2: All tied up
Adesanya leg kick. Izzy goes high but it’s blocked. Pereira lands a jab. Now another one. Upper cut by Adesanya in the clinch. Izzy goes for the takedown but Pereira is just too big. Straight right by Izzy after they separate! Left hook by Pereira. Both fighters letting it fly up against the fence. Knee by Pereira lands and they go to the clinch. Head kick connects for Pereira! Pereira shoots and gets the takedown as the horn sounds.
19-19.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:35 AM EST
Round 1
Pereira starts off with a flying kick but Adesanya steps aside. Both fighters trading leg kicks. Straight right lands for Adesanya. Pereira keeps attacking Adesanya’s lead leg. Body kick by Adesanya. Body kick by Pereira. Another one by Pereira and he lands a knee.
Both fighters clinch and Pereira starts landing punches to Izzy’s body. Izzy lands a huge right just at the buzzer! That may have won him the round.
10-9 Izzy.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:21 AM EST
Main event moments away
Alex Pereira is now in the Octagon. Israel Adesanya is about to make the walk. Let’s go!
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:04 AM EST
Zhang Weili submits Carla Esparza in the 2nd round to regain title!
Carla went for a takedown attempt but Weili reversed position on the ground. She took Esparza’s back and sunk in the rear-naked choke that forced her opponent to tap. She is once again the strawweight queen.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 13, 2022 at 12:00 AM EST
Round 1: Esparza vs. Zhang
Esparza lands a nice jab. Zhang goes for a head kick but it’s blocked. Zhang lands a nice combination and then a kick to the head. Fight goes to the ground with both fighters switching positions. Now Zhang has Esparza’s back! Another scramble and now Carla is on top! Both fighters get up and it’s back to a standup battle.
Carla catches a kick and takes it to the mat but Zhang reverses position into side control. Throwing some elbows.
Close, fun round. 10-9 Zhang.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 11:48 PM EST
Scorecards for Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler before submission Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 11:39 PM EST
Dustin Poirier wasn’t happy with Michael Chandler Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 11:32 PM EST
Dustin Poirier submits Michael Chandler in Round 3!
Chandler picked up Poirier and slammed him to the mat but Dustin reverses position. He took Chandler’s back and sunk in the rear-naked choke. What a win by DP.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 11:28 PM EST
Round 2: Chandler vs. Poirier
Chandler gets a double legged takedown and now he’s in half guard on top. Blood is just pouring out of Chandler onto Poirier. Chandler going to a rear-naked choke attempt but he’s a bit too high and unable to secure it. Dominating in ground control time.
1-1 heading into the third. Great fight.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 11:23 PM EST
Round 1: Chandler vs. Poirier
Jab lands for Chandler. Body kicks by Chandler. Nice right by Chandler. Another right by chandler and now he’s attacking the body! Dustin being patient and weathering the early storm. Right hook by Poirier. Big combination by Chandler and now he takes it to the mat!
Chandler slams Poirier to the mat. Poirier lands a big hook. Now Chandler! Both guys swinging! What a round.
This might not go the distance.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 11:00 PM EST
Frankie Edgar talks about retirement
“I love this sport. I hate to go out like that but this sport is a bitch, you know? I have my family here. That’s all that matters.”
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 10:54 PM EST
Chris Gutiérrez KO’s Frankie Edgar!
Lands a brutal knee in the first round! The end of Edgar’s career. Bittersweet but what a performance by Gutierrez.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 10:48 PM EST
Frankie Edgar making his final walk to the Octagon
Edgar, the former champ and sure-fire UFC HOFer is heading to the Octagon for his fight with Chris Gutiérrez.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 10:38 PM EST
Dan Hooker defeats Claudio Puelles via 2nd-round TKO
In a bit of a bizarre result, Dan Hooker was able to defeat Cladudio Puelles via second-round TKO. He landed a body shot that sent Puelles to the mat and the referee stepped in there to end it early. Puelles seemed totally fine — constantly going for submission attempts — until that one blow.
Hooker improved to 22-12 and rebounded after dropping his last two fights. Puelles had won his last five before this result.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat
November 12, 2022 at 10:29 PM EST
Round 1: Hooker vs. Puelles
After a feel out start to the round, Puelles took Hooker to the ground for a heel hook attempt. It looked as if he would get it but Hooker was able to get out of it and stood up, asking the referee to get his opponent up.
This should be a confidence boost for Hooker, who was able to stop an early submission attempt by one of the UFC’s best in this department.
Puelles 10-9.
Greg Rosenstein·
Managing Editor, Combat