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 03:54 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Edgar vs Gutierrez – Round 1

Lots of feinting from both men early on. Gutierrez catches Edgar with a counter left hook then a spinning back elbow! Lovely.

Now he kicks low. He brushes Edgar with another counter left hook. Edgar continues to press forward.

OH, MY! Gutierrez knocks out Edgar with a knee!!

[13 November 2022 03:51 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Here we go, Edgar in the Octagon one last time.

[13 November 2022 03:48 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

New Jersey native Edgar, 41, gets a great reception as he makes his ring walk (run) to fight compatriot Gutierrez, 31.

[13 November 2022 03:45 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

[13 November 2022 03:43 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

This next fight could be an emotional one; former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar fights for the final time, taking on Chris Gutierrez in a bantamweight bout.

[13 November 2022 03:42 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

[13 November 2022 03:41 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Hooker said he’s targeting a spot on the UFC 284 card in Perth, Australia in February.

The UFC confirmed earlier tonight that featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will challenge lightweight title holder Islam Makhachev on that card.

Volkanovski will be fighting on home turf as the Australian takes on the Russian.

[13 November 2022 03:36 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Dan Hooker def. Claudio Puelles via second-round TKO (body kick, 4:06).

[13 November 2022 03:35 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Hooker vs Puelles – Round 2

Hooker sprawls well to deny Puelles a takedown, and the New Zealander begins to dig elbows and punches into the body of Puelles.

The commentary team are saying that Puelles was on the wrong end of an eye poke earlier in the round...

Hooker with a nasty teep kick to the body! Puelles is breathing hard, he keeps dropping to the mat, with Hooker beckoning him back up each time...

And the fight is called off! The damage to the body is too much!

[13 November 2022 03:32 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 281 LIVE

Hooker vs Puelles – Round 2

Hooker steps back to avoid a takedown attempt from Puelles, who then absorbs a right hand!

Again he fails with a takedown effort, and this time Hooker connects with a left hook.

Puelles tries for a single-leg takedown now, and he drives Hooker to the fence. Hooker keeps the Peruvian at bay with a guillotine attempt, which forces Puelles to let go.

Once more Puelles is unable to finish off a single-leg takedown attempt.