Alex Pereira Stops Israel Adesanya to Win the UFC Middleweight Championship at Madison Square Garden.
Alex Pereira defeats Israel Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight title at Madison Square Garden last Saturday.
Pereira came back to knockout Adesanya with a hook in the fifth round which was needed because the Brazilian was down in the fight.
In the co-main event Weili Zhang submitted Carla Esparza to win the title that she lost, in a great fight which had a high paced from start to finish.
The fight of the night had to go to Dustin Poirier versus Michael Chandler where there were many big strikes and Poirier won by submission.
It was entertaining contest between the two kickboxing rivals. It was a cagey affair in the opening rounds of bout. Each fighter won a round with Adesanya taking the first and Pereira taking the second. In the third round the fight went to ground with Adesanya being having top control for most of the round. The round was grappling heavy, and this seemed to have a big impact on Pereia’s cardio. This resulted in Pereia not being as active in the fourth as he was in the previous rounds. Adesanya had a three to one lead going to final round. Yet, with Pereia’s hook and a barrage of punches the referee stepped in to put a stop to the contest.
Adesanya wasn’t happy with the stoppage
"I was fine. I could see everything happening. My eyes might have rolled back a little bit, but I was lucid."
Looking towards the future you can’t rule out an immediate rematch.
UFC president Dana White on a rematch
"You've got to respect him [ talking about Adesanya] as a champion and what he's done. I wouldn't rule an immediate rematch out."
In the co-main event, we saw Zhang regain the title that she lost to Rose Namajunas. It was an exciting first round with both fights pushing the pace. It was that Zhang had the advantage on the feet. Zhang won the fight by submitting Esparza in the second round in the contest. The only person to beat Zhang in the UFC is Namajunas so that could be a possible fight for the champ.
Poirier and Chandler put on an entertaining bout. Which resulted in Poirier finishing Chandler with a rear naked choke. The first round was close with both fighters having their moments in the round. Chandler dominated the second round. This was due to wrestling which Poirier had no answer for. Then it the third round Poirier took Chandler’s back and then the finish came.
It was a great night of fights on to the next.