UFC 281 - Adesanya vs Pereira LIVE: Stream, latest updates and results tonight

Re-live round-by-round updates from the UFC 281 main event plus Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler and Weili Zhang vs Carla Esparza

UFC women's strawweight Zhang Weili lifts heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou

Israel Adesanya’s three-year reign as UFC middleweight champion came to an end on Saturday night, as he was stopped by old kickboxing rival Alex Pereira in the final round.

Pereira entered New York City, Madison Square Garden, and the main event of UFC 281 with two wins over Adesanya from the pair’s kickboxing days, including a knockout victory five years ago. Adesanya, however, carried much greater mixed martial arts experience into the bout, with 23 wins and just one defeat as a professional, compared to the 6-1 record that his challenger had compiled. And Adesanya’s experience looked set to pay off, the Nigerian-born New Zealander outstriking “Poatan” in Round 1 and outgrappling the fatiguing Brazilian in the third and fourth frames.

However, a re-energised Pereira, 35, went in pursuit of a finish in the final round, eventually rocking Adesanya, 33, with a flurry of punches against the fence. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in as Adesanya failed to mount sufficient defence against the onslaught, and Pereira was declared the new champion as his old rival’s three-year reign came to an end. In the co-main event, Zhang Weili regained the women’s strawweight belt by submitting Carla Esparza, after Dustin Poirier submitted Michael Chandler, and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar retired with a brutal KO loss.

Re-live round-by-round updates from the UFC 281 main card and prelims, below.

UFC 281 LIVE

• Pereira def. Adesanya via fifth-round TKO (punches, 2:01)
• Zhang def. Esparza via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 1:05)
• Poirier def. Chandler via third-round submission (rear naked choke, 2:00)
• Gutierrez def. Edgar via first-round knockout (jumping knee, 2:01)
• Hooker def. Puelles via second-round TKO (body kick, 4:06)

[13 November 2022 06:46 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Fulll UFC 281 report and results:

[13 November 2022 07:07 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

[13 November 2022 06:50 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

[13 November 2022 06:09 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

We’re still coming to terms with what we just saw! Wild.

[13 November 2022 06:05 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Unthinkable? Indy Sport predicted a third-round TKO win for Pereira!

[13 November 2022 06:02 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

[13 November 2022 06:02 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Pereira apologises for trash-talking ahead of the fight.

[13 November 2022 06:01 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Alex Pereira def. Israel Adesanya via fifth-round TKO (punches, 2:01).

[13 November 2022 06:00 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Adesanya fought a near-perfect fight. He had Pereira out on his feet at the end of Round 1, but the Brazilian returned the favour in Round 5 to snatch it.

[13 November 2022 05:57 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Round 5

Adesanya kicks to the body. Forward comes Pereira. Short hooks connect for Adesanya.

Pereira checks a leg kick and Adesanya rolls back onto the mat then back up! How badly hurt is the champion??

He seems to be moving okay... He rolls with a couple of right hands, but Pereira starts to connect with left hooks and uppercuts, and THE FIGHT IS STOPPED AGAINST THE FENCE!

PEREIRA WITH THE TKO ON THE FEET! AND NEW!