UFC 287 Alex Pereira vs Israel Adesanya 4/8/2023 Free Picks, Game Analysis and Tips
The highly anticipated UFC 287 bout in Miami this Saturday will feature Israel Adesanya eager to reclaim his middleweight championship title and defeat his longtime rival, Alex Pereira. Pereira just won the middleweight championship and will be defending his title against Adesanya, a warrior whom he ran over three times in past duels. Adesanya intends to end his three-fight losing slump against the Brazilian fighter, which includes a loss in the UFC and two losses in kickboxing matches. The anticipated rematch is expected to be an intense blow-by-blow packed with intense action between two skilled athletes, with both fighters bringing their best to the octagon.
Pereira and Adesanya fight for the second time in mixed martial arts in addition to two previous kickboxing fights. Pereira is a combined 3-0 against his rival, twice by come-from-behind knockout and once by a disputed decision. Pereira stopped Adesanya in November and further cemented himself as the only person to ever KO Adesanya in MMA or kickboxing. Despite Pereira’s irrefutable success, Adesanya sits as a slight favorite on the strength of his well-roundedness and strong showings in the totality of their three fights.
Pereira (7-1), who previously owned a pair of kickboxing wins over Adesanya (23-2), scored a massive upset of “The Last Stylebender” in November when he dramatically stopped Adesanya in Round 5 to capture the UFC’s 185-pound championship. The pair of middleweights will face off once more inside Miami-Dade Arena atop a well-matched fight card featuring hometown hero Jorge Masvidal against Gilbert Burns in the co-main event.
UFC 287 Alex Pereira vs Israel Adesanya 4/8/2023 Free Picks, Game Analysis and Tips
At this point, it’s difficult to predict who will get the laurel wreath in this matchup. However, Adesanya has more experience and is a champion, while Pereira is relatively new to the UFC. Furthermore, Adesanya has successfully fought against other top contenders, which could give him the edge in this matchup.
Regardless of who wins, fans can expect an exciting fight on April 8. Both fighters are well-rounded and have a lot to prove in the match. The result is likely to be close, too. Look also for other UFC betting predictions. Either way, the fight is sure to be a great spectacle and definitely one of the most highly-anticipated MMA events of 2023. So, ensure you tune in to see one of the best fights this year!
The co-main event is a hometown special. Miami native Jorge Masvidal is back in action, fighting for the first time in south Florida under the UFC banner when he takes on top contender Gilbert Burns at welterweight. Masvidal, despite being on a three-fight losing streak in title fights, could end up near a fourth with a win over Burns given that Leon Edwards now holds the title and the two fighters have beef dating back to 2019.
UFC 287 Alex Pereira vs Israel Adesanya. Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) will look to reclaim the middleweight title from Pereira (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) when the pair rematch in the UFC 287 headliner on April 8 in Miami. Adesanya was en route to a win over Pereira at UFC 281 before “Poatan” rallied to knock him out late in Round 5. Michael Bisping sees Adesanya as both the better kickboxer and grappler but says he needs to utilize his wrestling earlier to keep Pereira guessing.
The Pick: Pereira via third-round KO
- Date: April 8
- Location: Miami-Dade Arena — Miami
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: ESPN+ PPV
