UFC 287 LIVE: Adesanya knocks out Pereira – result
Follow the fallout: Adesanya regains the middleweight belt from long-time rival Pereira, after Jorge Masvidal retires with a loss to Gilbert Burns
Israel Adesanya knocked Alex Pereira out cold to regain the middleweight title in the main event of UFC 287.
It was the fourth fight between the pair, with Pereira beating Adesanya twice in kickboxing before following the Nigerian-New Zealander into mixed martial arts, where he took Adesanya’s UFC title with a TKO in November.
But at the fourth time of asking, Adesanya finally beat his long-time rival, freezing Pereira with a right hook in Round 2 before dropping the champion with a one-two and finishing the fight with a hammer fist.
In the co-main event, Jorge Masvidal suffered a points loss to Gilbert Burns before retiring from MMA. Masvidal, in front of a home crowd in Miami, called time on a 20-year career and praised former US president Donald Trump, who was ringside.
Trump sat in the front row with Mike Tyson and UFC president Dana White, and the Miami-Dade Arena crowd erupted when the 76-year-old arrived.
Re-live updates and see full results from UFC 287, below. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.
UFC 287: Michelle Waterson-Gomez takes on Luana Pinheiro
Round 2
Pinheiro catches a kick and drives her opponent to the cage wall again.
Once more, Waterson-Gomez shows off some solid takedown defence, and she slices Pinheiro with an elbow while circling into space!
Both women land clean punches in the following exchange. Waterson-Gomez with more harsh low kicks, but – as in Round 1– Pinheiro finishes with a strong right hand!
UFC 287: Michelle Waterson-Gomez takes on Luana Pinheiro
Round 2
That was a great opening round, and the second starts well, too. Pinheiro lands a hard punch but is caught by two front kicks to the face – a right leg then left leg from Waterson-Gomez!
Waterson-Gomez lands a stinging right low kick, while Pinheiro tags the American with a right overhand. Another is on target for Pinheiro, and her opponent stumbles slightly!
Pinheiro grabs Waterson-Gomez and holds her against the fence. Good takedown defence from Waterson-Gomez, though, and the strawweights move back into the open.
UFC 287: Michelle Waterson-Gomez takes on Luana Pinheiro
Round 1
Both women kick low early on but miss the mark. Waterson-Gomez finds the target on her next attempt, however, as Pinheiro punches over the top but is just out of range.
Now Waterson-Gomez with a teep kick and side kick, though Pinheiro stays light on her feet to avoid the worst of those attempts.
Spinning back elbow from Waterson-Gomez in close! Pinheiro felt that but fires back with a heavy low kick, before tagging her opponent with a one-two upstairs. Both women briefly stand southpaw, before reverting back to orthodox.
Now Pinheiro goes down after a high kick from Waterson-Gomez!! The Brazilian springs back to her feet, though, and looks to get back to work!
And she lands a hard right hand late in the round! It staggers Waterson-Gomez, who is able to survive to the buzzer!
UFC 287: Michelle Waterson-Gomez takes on Luana Pinheiro
Meanwhile, Pinheiro is on an eight-fight win streak and is 2-0 in the UFC. Last time out, she outpointed Sam Hughes. That was a good 17 months ago, however.
UFC 287: Michelle Waterson-Gomez takes on Luana Pinheiro
Waterson-Gomez is a real fan favourite but has just one win in her last five fights – a decision over Angela Hill in September 2020, which has been followed by losses to Marina Rodriguez and Amanda Lemos.
Lemos beat Waterson-Gomez via submission in July.
UFC 287: Michelle Waterson-Gomez takes on Luana Pinheiro
Next we have a women’s strawweight bout between Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Luana Pinheiro!
UFC 287: Up-and-comer Joe Pyfer stops Gerald Meerschaert early
Joe Pyfer def. Gerald Meerschaert via first-round TKO (punches, 3:15).
UFC 287: Veteran Gerald Meerschaert faces up-and-comer Joe Pyfer
Round 1
Meerschaert stands southpaw; Pyfer orthodox. Pyfer recently made a name for himself with an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series to set up a full UFC debut.
It’s a nervy start to this one, though, and the crowd is already somewhat restless. Lots of feinting from the fighters, not much landing.
Huge right cross from Pyfer out of nowhere, though!! It snaps back the head of Meerschaert, who also wobbles slightly.
Now Pyfer clips Meerschaert again – it’s a left hook and right hand this time, and down goes the veteran!
He turtles up, making little effort to fight back, and the referee steps in! Pyfer with a massive win.
UFC 287: Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira
Next up: Veteran Gerald Meerschaert faces up-and-comer Joe Pyfer at middleweight.
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