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

Israel Adesanya defends his middleweight title against Alex Pereira in the UFC 281 main event at Madison Square Garden tonight, as the champion looks to avenge two kickboxing defeats to his challenger.

Adesanya is unbeaten at middleweight in mixed martial arts, his sole professional loss having come while challenging for light heavyweight gold last year. But the Nigerian-born New Zealander’s kickboxing career involved a few losses, with Brazilian Pereira having outpointed Adesanya in 2016 and knocked out the “Last Stylebender” in 2017. Pereira, 35, is 6-1 in MMA, having won five of those bouts via knockout while being fast-tracked to a title shot in New York City tonight.

In the co-main event, Carla Esparza begins her second reign as women’s strawweight champion with a title defence against Zhang Weili, who held the belt between 2019 and 2021. In her last outing, the Chinese fighter knocked out icon Joanna Jedrzejczyk with a spinning back elbow, while Esparza outpointed Zhang’s recent rival Rose Namajunas to claim the gold. In the night’s other featured bout, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler meet in a huge lightweight clash. Follow live round-by-round updates from the UFC 281 main card and prelims, below.

UFC 281 LIVE

• Israel Adesanya (C) vs Alex Pereira (middleweight title)

• Carla Esparza (C) vs Weili Zhang (women’s strawweight title)

• Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)

• Gutierrez def. Edgar via first-round knockout (jumping knee, 2:01)

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

UFC 281 LIVE

04:38 , Alex Pattle

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.

UFC 281 LIVE

04:34 , Alex Pattle

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

UFC 281 LIVE

04:31 , Alex Pattle

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!

UFC 281 LIVE

04:29 , Alex Pattle

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

UFC 281 LIVE

04:28 , Alex Pattle

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...

UFC 281 LIVE

04:27 , Alex Pattle

Poirier vs Chandler – Round 2

Chandler presses forward, backs up Poirier, then takes him down. Chandler is straight into full guard. This should give him an extra few moments to recover.

Chandler is leaking blood onto Poirier’s face... but Poirier is unperturbed, trying for a triangle choke!

Chandler escapes and takes the back! He’s looking for a rear naked choke...

Poirier is face-down. Chandler is too high on the back, though. Good defence from Poirier, who is able to twist free.

His back is against the cage, with Chandler back in his guard.

UFC 281 LIVE

04:22 , Alex Pattle

Poirier vs Chandler – Round 1

Poirier tries to stand, but Chandler slams him back down with a German suplex! Poirier does well to stand again, though.

Now he backs up Chandler! Both men land huge punches!

A hook drops Chandler to a knee! Poirier is picking his shots well! Chandler makes it to the buzzer, somehow!

A wild end to a wild round. Somewhere in there, there was a clash of heads.

UFC 281 LIVE

04:21 , Alex Pattle

Poirier vs Chandler – Round 1

Chandler is bouncing around, coming forward. Now Poirier backs him up in measured fashion. Chandler sees a right cross blocked as he steps in. Harsh body kick from Chandler.

Poirier jabs to the body. Chandler smashes a low kick into Poirier’s shin but sees it checked! Ouch.

Chandler comes forward with a flurry of punches, but Poirier stays calm... He eats four big right hands, though!

Now here comes Poirier with a cross from southpaw. Now Chandler loads up with wild hooks, missing with each...

This is fun but also rather tense. A clean right hook connects for Poirier, then an outside low kick. Chandler’s face is sporting burising already.

Again Chandler comes forward with big punches! He’s landing over and over! Now he takes down Poirier against the fence!

UFC 281 LIVE

04:16 , Alex Pattle

This one should produce fireworks.

Here. We. Go.

UFC 281 LIVE

04:15 , Alex Pattle

Meanwhile, Chandler’s compatriot Poirier is a former interim UFC lightweight champion.

The 33-year-old failed to unify the belts against then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2019 but went on to record back-to-back wins against Conor McGregor last year.

In his last bout, in December, Poirier was submitted by Oliveira while challenging for the lightweight gold again.

UFC 281 LIVE

04:14 , Alex Pattle

Former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler has shown no hesitation to fight the best since joining the UFC two years ago.

The American, 36, knocked out Dan Hooker in his UFC debut, before almost beating Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight belt, narrowly losing an all-time great clash with Justin Gaethje, then producing one of the best KOs in UFC history against Tony Ferguson.

UFC 281 LIVE

04:08 , Alex Pattle

Next up, one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year: Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler in a clash of lightweight contenders.

UFC 281 LIVE

04:00 , Alex Pattle

Edgar: “I love this sport, man. I didn’t wanna go out like that. This sport’s a b***h, you know?

“My family’s here, that’s all that matters.

“Congrats to Chris. This sport’s not always so forgiving.

“I love everybody, you guys make this awesome.”

UFC 281 LIVE

03:58 , Alex Pattle

Gutierrez reveals that his mum is dealing with cancer, and so is his coach.

UFC 281 LIVE

03:57 , Alex Pattle

That was a terrific performance from Gutierrez for as long as the fight lasted, with an emphatic finish to boot.

Edgar dipped his head while coming forward, and Gutierrez caught him with a jumping knee. Edgar was stiff as a board on the canvas.

The crowd chants, “Frankie Edgar”.

Chris Gutierrez def. Frankie Edgar via first-round knockout (jumping knee, 2:01).

UFC 281 LIVE

03:54 , Alex Pattle

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!!

UFC 281 LIVE

03:51 , Alex Pattle

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

UFC 281 LIVE

03:48 , Alex Pattle

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

UFC 281 LIVE

03:45 , Alex Pattle

UFC 281 LIVE

03:43 , Alex Pattle

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.

UFC 281 LIVE

03:42 , Alex Pattle

UFC 281 LIVE

03:41 , Alex Pattle

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.

UFC 281 LIVE

03:36 , Alex Pattle

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

UFC 281 LIVE

03:35 , Alex Pattle

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!

UFC 281 LIVE

03:32 , Alex Pattle

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.

UFC 281 LIVE

03:28 , Alex Pattle

Hooker vs Puelles – Round 1

Puelles starts in a southpaw stance. Hooker flicks out a few inside leg kicks early on.

Puelles blocks a head kick before eating another leg kick. He checks the next one.

Hooker tries a front kick to the body but is just out of range. He’s the fighter pressing forward, but in measured fashion.

Puelles with an Imanari roll to drag down Hooker! He goes for a leg lock, but Hooker reverses the effort into a body triangle on the mat...

Hooker fires off a couple of punches, but he needs to focus on his leg! Puelles has extended it!

Hooker stays calm and is eventually able to get free and stand! Puelles fails with a second Imanari roll attempt, then he’s cracked with a right cross.

UFC 281 LIVE

03:23 , Alex Pattle

Hooker’s City Kickboxing teammate Carlos Ulberg won via first-round knockout earlier tonight, before Brad Riddell lost via first-round submission.

Can Hooker get his team back in the winning column ahead of Adesanya’s fight?

Let’s find out!

UFC 281 LIVE

03:21 , Alex Pattle

Hooker (21-12) is 1-4 in his last five, and his last outing was a return to featherweight as he lost to Arnold Allen on the Briton’s home turf in London this March.

UFC 281 LIVE

03:19 , Alex Pattle

Puelles (12-2) has won five fights in a row, including three by submission.

UFC 281 LIVE

03:18 , Alex Pattle

The main card opens with fan favourite Dan Hooker, a teammate of Israel Adesanya, taking on Claudio Puelles at lightweight!

UFC 281 LIVE

03:08 , Alex Pattle

Here’s how the main card looks:

Israel Adesanya (C) vs Alex Pereira (middleweight title)

Carla Esparza (C) vs Weili Zhang (women’s strawweight title)

Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)

Frankie Edgar vs Chris Gutierrez (bantamweight)

Dan Hooker vs Claudio Puelles (lightweight)

UFC 281 LIVE

03:02 , Alex Pattle

It’s time for the UFC 281 main card!

UFC 281 LIVE

02:54 , Alex Pattle

Moicano was fired up during his post-fight interview!

UFC 281 LIVE

02:46 , Alex Pattle

Renato Moicano def. Brad Riddell via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 3:20).

UFC 281 LIVE

02:43 , Alex Pattle

Riddell vs Moicano – Round 1

Moicano presses forward early and stings Riddell with a jab, then lands a knee to the body.

He grazes Riddell with a head kick, before connecting with another sharp jab. Riddell clinches the Brazilian against the fence.

The lightweights don’t stay there for long. Riddell is already sporting some blood – either from his nose or a cut just to the side of it.

More jabs are on point for Moicano, who then trips Riddell and takes his back swiftly!

The jiu-jitsu specialist is working on a rear naked choke... and gets the tap! Moicano wins!

UFC 281 LIVE

02:39 , Alex Pattle

Riddell’s pro record is 10-3; Brazilian Moicano’s is 16-5-1.

UFC 281 LIVE

02:27 , Alex Pattle

One more prelim bout to go: Brad Riddell faces Renato Moicano at lightweight.

New Zealander Riddell is a compatriot and teammate of Israel Adesanya, who defends the middleweight title in tonight’s main event.

In fact, four City Kickboxing fighters are in action this evening: Adesanya, Riddell, Dan Hooker, and Carlos Ulberg – the latter having already won via first-round knockout tonight.

UFC 281 LIVE

02:23 , Alex Pattle

A few years ago, Reyes was narrowly outpointed by then-champion Jon Jones in a fight that many believe Reyes won.

Since coming up short against the light heavyweight ‘GOAT’, Reyes’ career has really taken a turn for the worse; he’s been knocked out three times in a row.

UFC 281 LIVE

02:16 , Alex Pattle

Ryan Spann def. Dominick Reyes via first-round knockout (punch, 1:20).

UFC 281 LIVE

02:14 , Alex Pattle

Reyes vs Spann – Round 1

OH, MY! A chaotic start gives way to a brutal knockout!

Reyes eats a short, sharp jab and it’s enough to put him out cold!

He’s also grazed by a right hand on the way down.

What a win for Spann.

UFC 281 LIVE

02:10 , Alex Pattle

Here we go! Can Spann enter the top 10 at 205lbs? He’ll likely climb from 12th if he can beat No 7 Reyes.

UFC 281 LIVE

02:03 , Alex Pattle

Next up, former title challenger Dominick Reyes faces Ryan Spann at light heavyweight.

UFC 281 LIVE

01:58 , Alex Pattle

A brutal showing from Blanchfield.

UFC 281 LIVE

01:53 , Alex Pattle

Blanchfield is just 23. What a performance from the youngster.

UFC 281 LIVE

01:53 , Alex Pattle

Erin Blanchfield def. Molly McCann via first-round submission (Kimura, 3:37).

UFC 281 LIVE

01:49 , Alex Pattle

McCann vs Blanchfield – Round 1

McCann catches a kick and wings a right overhand. It doesn’t quite connect, and Blanchfield comes back with a right cross.

And another! She rolls under a hook and secures a double-leg takedown. She’s quickly into crucifix position and hammering McCann with punches and elbows!

McCann’s face is bright red from the strikes. She’s trying to buck Blanchfield off her, but to no avail.

Blanchfield gets to work on a Kimura, and eventually McCann taps!!!

UFC 281 LIVE

01:44 , Alex Pattle

American Blanchfield has won six fights in a row, while McCann is riding a three-fight win streak.

Here we go!

UFC 281 LIVE

01:42 , Alex Pattle

McCann has fought twice this year, securing early knockout wins at UFC London in March and July.

She is a nominee at next week’s BT Sport’s Action Woman Awards. Have your say in the awards and vote by clicking here.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Wednesday 16 November and broadcast live for anyone to watch on BT Sport, online and on Facebook and YouTube.

UFC 281 LIVE

01:36 , Alex Pattle

Next up, Liverpool’s own “Meatball” Molly McCann is in action at flyweight, as the fan favourite takes on Erin Blanchfield!

UFC 281 LIVE

01:34 , Alex Pattle

Andre Petroski def. Wellington Turman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).

UFC 281 LIVE

01:31 , Alex Pattle

Petroski vs Turman – Round 3

Petroski immediately shoots for a takedown from range, and he gets it against the fence.

Turman tries to reverse the position but is caught in a guillotine choke... Petroski looks to mount, but Turman eventually slips out! Perhaps Petroski felt that he was burning out his arms.

Still, Petroski is in full guard. Turman stays composed and eventually creates space, managing to stand.

Petroski picks him up and slams him to the mat, however, as we enter the final minute of this fight.

UFC 281 LIVE

01:25 , Alex Pattle

Petroski vs Turman – Round 2

Petroski shoots for a takedown again but is caught in a guillotine choke!

He slips out as he and Turman hit the mat, and a scramble ensues. Petroski eventually takes his opponent’s back, but Turman survives and is even able to stand.

He tries for another standing guillotine, but it fails as the middleweights hit the canvas once more.

Now Turman is exhibiting some grappling control... but not for long, as Petroski reverses the position and drags Turman down.

Petroski is in half-guard after briefly flirting with a Kimura attempt, and that’s where the round ends.

UFC 281 LIVE

01:18 , Alex Pattle

Petroski vs Turman – Round 1

Petroski is getting the better of the early exchanges, fighting out of a southpaw stance.

He blasts a body kick into the ribs of Turman before trying for a single-leg takedown. It’s denied at first, but he gets Turman to the fence and drags him down.

Turman does well to stand, and the middleweights move out into space. Petroski eats a straight right then connects with a left cross.

Petroski sees a head kick blocked before he goes to work on a single-leg takedown again, which he gets just as the round ends.

UFC 281 LIVE

01:15 , Alex Pattle

Firstly, though, here are the early prelim results:

Matt Frevola def. Ottman Azaitar via first-round KO (2:30)

Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Silvana Gomez Juarez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Michael Trizano def. Seung Woo Choi via first-round KO (4:51)

Montel Jackson def. Julio Arce via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Carlos Ulberg def. Nicolae Negumereanu via first-round KO (3:44)

UfC 281 LIVE

01:14 , Alex Pattle

Andre Petroski vs Wellington Turman kickstarts our coverage of the prelims!

UFC 281 LIVE

00:50 , Alex Pattle

Check out our main-event preview as the prelims edge nearer... Just 10 minutes away now!

Israel Adesanya out to avoid haunting from old ghost Alex Pereira at UFC 281

UFC 281 LIVE

00:35 , Alex Pattle

And here’s Adesanya on tonight’s main event...

‘I know something you don’t’: Israel Adesanya coy on Alex Pereira fight

UFC 281 LIVE

00:20 , Alex Pattle

Here’s Israel Adesanya reflecting on his last performance...

Israel Adesanya ‘cried backstage’ after disappointing himself in recent UFC win

UFC 281 LIVE

00:00 , Alex Pattle

Our coverage will begin with the prelims at 1am GMT!

More timings here:

What time does UFC 281 start in UK and US tonight?

UFC 281 LIVE

Saturday 12 November 2022 23:45 , Alex Pattle

Here’s tonight’s card in full:

Main card

Israel Adesanya (C) vs Alex Pereira (middleweight title)

Carla Esparza (C) vs Weili Zhang (women’s strawweight title)

Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)

Frankie Edgar vs Chris Gutierrez (bantamweight)

Dan Hooker vs Claudio Puelles (lightweight)

Prelims

Brad Riddell vs Renato Moicano (lightweight)

Erin Blanchfield vs Molly McCann (women’s flyweight)

Dominick Reyes vs Ryan Spann (light heavyweight)

Andre Petroski vs Wellington Turman (middleweight)

Early prelims

Matt Frevola vs Ottman Azaitar (lightweight)

Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Silvan Gomez Juarez (women’s strawweight)

Michael Trizano vs Seung Woo Choi (featherweight)

Julio Arce vs Montel Jackson (bantamweight)

Carlos Ulberg vs Nicolae Negumereanu (light heavyweight)

UFC 281 card as Israel Adesanya tops bill after Poirier vs Chandler clash tonight

UFC 281 LIVE

Saturday 12 November 2022 23:20 , Alex Pattle

Big news... The UFC has confirmed that featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will challenge lightweight title holder Islam Makhachev for the 155lbs belt in Perth in February!

UFC 281 LIVE

Saturday 12 November 2022 18:28 , Alex Pattle

Israel Adesanya defends his middleweight title against Alex Pereira in the UFC 281 main event at Madison Square Garden tonight, as the champion looks to avenge two kickboxing defeats to his challenger.

Adesanya is unbeaten at middleweight in mixed martial arts, his sole professional loss having come while challenging for light heavyweight gold last year. But the Nigerian-born New Zealander’s kickboxing career involved a few losses, with Brazilian Pereira having outpointed Adesanya in 2016 and knocked out the “Last Stylebender” in 2017. Pereira, 35, is 6-1 in MMA, having won five of those bouts via knockout while being fast-tracked to a title shot in New York City tonight.

In the co-main event, Carla Esparza begins her second reign as women’s strawweight champion with a title defence against Zhang Weili, who held the belt between 2019 and 2021. In her last outing, the Chinese fighter knocked out icon Joanna Jedrzejczyk with a spinning back elbow, while Esparza outpointed Zhang’s recent rival Rose Namajunas to claim the gold. In the night’s other featured bout, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler meet in a huge lightweight clash.

Furthermore, former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar fights one last time before retiring, and fan favourite Dan Hooker is in action.