Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

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

Alex Pattle
Combat Sports Correspondent
Sunday 13 November 2022 07:08 GMT
Comments
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

Here we go!

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:54

UFC 281 LIVE

Now here comes Esparza, 35.

A smattering of boos for the American.

Her decision win against Namajunas to reclaim the strawweight title this year was a stinker of a fight, but both women played their role in that; the negativity towards Esparza this week has felt a bit unfair.

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:50

UFC 281 LIVE

Zhang is out first, taking her time to make her way to the Octagon.

Many are predicting an early knockout win for the 33-year-old this evening.

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:49

UFC 281 LIVE

Esparza is making the first defence of her second strawweight title reign, having outpointed Rose Namajunas earlier this year to reclaim the gold that she previously held from late 2014 until early 2015.

Meanwhile, Zhang is looking to regain the belt, having won it in 2019 before losing it to Namajunas in April 2021. Zhang failed to win the gold back from Namajunas in a rematch 12 months ago, but the Chinese star got back to winning ways in June by knocking out strawweight legend Joanna Jedrzejczyk in stunning fashion.

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:48

UFC 281 LIVE

It’s time for the co-main event! Carla Esparza defends the women’s strawweight title against former champion Zhang Weili.

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:44

UFC 281 LIVE

What a fight and what a performance from Poirier.

Chandler’s stock hardly takes a hit there, but Poirier re-establishes himself at the top of the division.

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:38

UFC 281 LIVE

Dustin Poirier def. Michael Chandler via third-round submission (rear naked choke, 2:00).

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:34

UFC 281 LIVE

Poirier vs Chandler – Round 3

Final round! Poirier kicks low. He switches stances. Chandler kicks to the body then lifts Poirier and takes him down!

Poirier reverses the position as he hits the mat, though, and starts to pour on strikes! Now he takes Chandler’s back! Wow!

Rear naked choke is locked in... CHANDLER TAPS!

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:31

UFC 281 LIVE

It could be 19-19 after two rounds, or even 19-18 to Chandler.

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:29

UFC 281 LIVE

Poirier vs Chandler – Round 2

Chandler with hammer fists now, but he’s warned for striking the back of Poirier’s head.

This is a great round for Chandler. It could even be a 10-8...

Alex Pattle13 November 2022 04:28

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in