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

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...

event produced by the

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

that took place on April 8, 2023, at the Kaseya Center in

Miami, Florida Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

, United States.

Background

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

UFC 42 The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

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 classe ...

rematch between current champion

Alex Pereira Alexsandro Pereira (born 7 July 1987) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer. He currently competes in the Middleweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Middlewe ...

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

Israel Adesanya Israel Mobolaji Odunayo Oluwafemi Temitayo Owolabi Adesanya (born 22 July 1989) is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and former boxer with multiple championships in all three disciplines. As a mixed martial artist, h ...

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 (born August 27, 1997) is a Chilean mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was the former Lux Lightweight Champion. Background Born and raised in Santiago ...

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 artist, and sports analyst who currently competes in the welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional MMA competitor sin ...

and

Li Jingliang Li Jingliang (Chinese: 李景亮; pinyin: Lǐ Jǐngliàng; born March 20, 1988) is a Chinese mixed martial artist who competes as a welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of December 13, 2022, he is #15 in the UFC welterweight ...

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. Background Barnett was born in Zaragoza, Spain, where his father was ...

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'Iberville, ...

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 classe ...

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 Lawler (born March 20, 1982) is an American professional mixed martial artist who has been competing since 2001. He is the former UFC Welterweight Champion, former EliteXC Middleweight Champion, and has formerly competed in Strikeforce, ...

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 mixed martial arts 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