The UFC Returns to Madison Square Garden as Israel Adesanya Takes on Alex Pereira for the Middleweight Title
Israel Adesanya puts his middleweight championship on the line against his old kickboxing rival Alex Pereira at the Madison Square Garden arena in New Yorkj this Saturday.
Pereira has handed Adesanya two losses in kickboxing and now they meet in a UFC Octagon.
In the co-main event Carla Esparza will defend her strawweight title against former champion Weili Zhang in a great clash on paper
On the card you also have a mouth-watering clash that has been a long time coming in the lightweight division between Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier.
Adesanya and Pereira paths were destining to cross as they have a long history with each other. This is because they have a rivalry in kickboxing. They first fought each at GLORY of heroes one in 2016. The result saw Pereira take victory by way of unanimous decision. The two fighters met again a year later at GLORY of heroes seven in Brazil.
Since that final meeting in Brazil, Adesanya has set the MMA world alight ever since he made his UFC debut in 2018. He went on to make a quick rise to title which cumulated with a win over Robert Whittaker. After becoming champion Adesanya defended the belt multiple times. Against the likes Yoel Romero, Marvin Vettori, Paulo Costa. The Stylebender has cemented his place as one of the greatest middleweights of all time. Pereira has also made quick rise to title. With only having three fights before being grated this title shot.
When you look at how the fight is going to playout, it is going to be a kickboxing match in the octagon. Both fighters have a lot of power. This means that they have to be careful when it comes to what strikes they throw.
In the co-main event, you have a good fight. Where Esparza is trying to defend her championship for the first time against Zhang. The champion is coming off a win in a lacklustre fight against Rose Namajunas. Zhang’s last fight was a victory against Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Zhang is the betting favourite going into the fight. It looks like she is going to be stronger than Esparza.
In the lightweight division you Chandler and Poirier in must win fight for both fighters. The reason for is that a win will put them right back into the title picture. It going to be a chaotic fight with a finish likely.
Its going to be a great night.