UFC 281
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will return to the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on Sat., Nov. 12, 2022, with a blockbuster pay-per-view (PPV) event that features two championship clashes. In UFC 281's main event, Middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, will look to settle the score with former kickboxing rival and No. 5-ranked division contender, Alex Pereira. In the co-feature, women’s Strawweight queenpin, Carla Esparza, will attempt to defend her newly-won title for the first time against former champion and No. 2-seeded contender, Zhang Weili. Top-ranked Lightweight contenders, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, will also throw down during UFC 281's PPV main card, an electric 155-pound showdown that has "Fight of the Night" written all over it. We'll stockpile all the real-time UFC 281 updates, odds, start time, tickets, weigh ins, predictions, previews, video highlights, press conferences, winners, losers and much more from "The Big Apple" right here before, during and well after the ESPN+-streamed live PPV show concludes.
Chandler Wants BMF Smoke, Gets Smoked Instead
UFC 291: Michael Chandler tried to insert himself into a "worthy" challenge for the BMF belt, currently held by lightweight contender Justin Gaethje, but longtime rival Dustin Poirier was not having it.
Liddell Enlisted For ‘Last Adjustments’ In Pereira Camp
Video: Alex Pereira and Glover Teixeira enlist former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell for "last adjustments" ahead of the UFC 287 PPV event, where "Poatan" will collide with middleweight rival Israel Adesanya.
Pereira Trades Bombs With ‘Dangerous’ Heavyweight Monster
Alex Pereira is training for his Israel Adesanya rematch at UFC 287 on April 8 by sparring with Chinese heavyweight boxer and Olympic silver medalist Zhilei Zhang.
Mak: Chandler Took A Dive To Score Connie Cash
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev suggests Michael Chandler took a dive in his Dustin Poirier fight to preserve a potential Conor McGregor payday after TUF 31.
Adesanya Will Whoop Pereira, Send ‘Poatan’ To 205
Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira rematch at UFC 287 in Miami is where "The Last Stylebender" will score his revenge and send the massive "Poatan" to light heavyweight.
Alex Pereira Vs ... Robert Whittaker?
Alex Pereira is expected to make his UFC return in April or May of 2023 and expects to fight either Israel Adesanya or Robert Whittaker with the middleweight title up for grabs.
Pereira Brings Back Title To Pataxó Tribe In Brazil
Check out the scene when Alex Pereira brought his newly-acquired UFC middleweight title back home to his Pataxó tribe in Brazil.
Poirier Headed Home From Hospital Today
After nearly one week in the hospital, doctors have successfully treated Dustin Poirier’s MRSA infection. He’ll be home by this afternoon.
Adesanya’s Knuckle Charge Dismissed
Israel Adesanya won’t be doing any hard time for his recent luggage mix-up in New York City.
My Left Foot
Dustin Poirier hospital video: The UFC lightweight is battling Staph infection and has extreme swelling in his left foot that does not appear to be making progress.
Poirier Remains Hospitalized
UFC star Dustin Poirier remains hospitalized and told his social media followers it was "getting serious" as he entered his second day under doctor’s care.
Mollywhopped! Blanchfield Praised As ‘One Of The Best Grapplers On The Planet’
Erin Blanchfield continued her ascent through the UFC flyweight division in about as emphatic of a fashion as she could have asked for at UFC 281 earlier this month (Nov. 12, 2022).
Pereira Knows What It’s Like Losing Three Times To The Same Guy
Israel Adesanya isn’t the only fighter with a nemesis he couldn’t win against — "Poatan" had a similar opponent when he was a kickboxing amateur who beat him three times.
‘At This Point You Just Have To Poison HIm’
Israel Adesanya may want to consider poisoning Alex Pereira before their inevitable rematch under the UFC banner since "The Last Stylebender" cannot seem to defeat "Poatan" in hand-to-hand combat.
Zhang Surprised Fans Booed Esparza At UFC 281
No one was more surprised than Zhang Weili that Carla Esparza got showered with boos at UFC 281 in New York City.
KhamSquat Getting Yoked
Khamzat Chimaev return to middleweight seems like a foregone conclusion after buff-looking "Borz" uploaded photos of his training regimen.
Rogan Calls Pereira’s Extreme Weight Cutting ‘Sanctioned Cheating’
The Joe Rogan Experience host questioned why it’s legal for fighters to cut massive amounts of weight to squeeze into lower divisions.
Adesanya Handled UFC 281 Loss ‘Better Than Anybody Ever’
Joe Rogan discusses Israel Adesanya’s knockout loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 281 earlier this month.
Pereira Slams Stylewhiner For Referee Blame Game
Alex Pereira blasts UFC 281 opponent Israel Adesanya for blaming referee Marc Goddard for an early stoppage in their middleweight title fight on Nov. 12 in New York.
Whittaker On ‘Giant’ Pereira: ‘I Think I Can Take Him’
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker believes he can defeat newly-crowned 185-pound titleholder Alex Pereira, despite his "giant" frame, because of his offensive style and how they match up.
‘Kiss Me Dan Hooker, Kiss Me’
UFC lightweight Dan Hooker admits that kissing Joe Rogan’s head during his post-fight interview was a magical experience following his Claudio Puelles victory at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Promotion! Pereira ‘Survived’ With Jiu-Jitsu, Earns Brown Belt
Alex Pereira has evolved.
Adesanya Arrested At JFK Airport
Israel Adesanya’s week nearly went from bad to worse.
Cancel Rematch? ‘It’s Not Right’
Israel Adesanya is expected to score an immediate rematch against Alex Pereira after "Poatan" captured the 185-pound title at UFC 281, but not everyone in the middleweight division agrees with the decision to run it back.
Pereira Gets UFC Title Tattoo
Newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira celebrated his victory over longtime rival Israel Adesanya with a giant tattoo of the 185-pound strap.
Cormier Downplays Adesanya’s 0-3 Record Against Pereira
"DC" believes "The Last Stylebender" absolutely does deserve an immediate rematch against Alex Pereira despite being winless (0-3) over their inter-sport rivalry.
Midnight Mania! ‘Heartbroken’ Edgar Reacts To Retirement KO Loss
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The Champ Is Here!
Video: UFC Middleweight champion Alex Pereira returns home to adoring crowd in Connecticut just a few days removed from his technical knockout (TKO) win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 281.
Referee Saved Adesanya’s Career At UFC 281
According to long-time MMA trainer, Faras Zahabi, referee Marc Goddard may have saved Israel Adesanya’s career by stepping in to stop Alex Pereira from punishing him further at UFC 281.
Riddell Stepping Away From UFC After UFC 281 Loss
Brad Riddell has announced that he will be taking an extended hiatus from fighting after losing to Renato Moicano at UFC 281, his third straight defeat.
‘No Regrets’
Carla Esparza has no regrets in defeat Zhang Weili in the UFC 281 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event last Sat. night (Nov. 12, 2022) at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
NYSAC Suspends 19 Fighters Indefinitely
UFC 281 medical suspensions: NYSAC suspends 19 fighters indefinitely following violent PPV action last Sat. night (Nov. 12, 2022) at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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