This weekend (Sat., April 8, 2023) at UFC 287, two of the best strikers in mixed martial arts (MMA) collide for the second time (fourth overall), meeting in the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Headlining the event will be a rematch between the Middleweight champion, Alex Pereira, and the man he dethroned to capture the title, all-time great Middleweight, Israel Adesanya. The pair had their first MMA encounter in Nov. 2022 at UFC 281, resulting in a fifth-round come-from-behind technical knockout win for “Poatan.” The co-main event of the evening will see a notable return, as Miami’s own Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal looks to snap a three-fight losing streak against Welterweight staple, Gilbert Burns.
For South Florida supremacy!! @GilbertDurinho vs @GamebredFighter Saturday in our #UFC287 co-main event!
[ #UFC287 | Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/UU0nUgr0j4 ] pic.twitter.com/3fKKNnnI4U
— UFC (@ufc) April 6, 2023
Also in attendance at today’s (Thurs., April 6, 2023) pre-fight press conference was thrilling Bantamweight contenders, Rob Font and Adrian Yanez. Font, like Masvidal, intends on snapping a losing streak by halting the red-hot Yanez, who is undefeated in UFC and rides a nine-fight winning streak overall (five in UFC).
A boxer’s delight!! @RobSFont and @YanezMMA coming to throw hands on Saturday!
[ #UFC287 | Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/UU0nUgr0j4 ] pic.twitter.com/ok9X9GTfhb
— UFC (@ufc) April 6, 2023
Before Font and Yanez throwdown, the always entertaining Kevin Holland returns to try and take out Santiago Ponzinibbio.
ZERO backing down between these welterweights @TrailBlaze2Top meets @SPonzinibbioMMA Saturday night!
[ #UFC287 | Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/UU0nUgr0j4 ] pic.twitter.com/C7x8jJNfNo
— UFC (@ufc) April 6, 2023
Opening the main card will be the return of UFC’s all-time youngest fighter, Raul Rosas Jr., who made history in his promotional debut to close out 2022 at UFC 282. He faces Christian Rodriguez in what should be a good one.
Young Guns opening the main card!
Raul Rosas Jr. and @Ceerod97 will kick things off Saturday night
[ #UFC287 | Saturday | Live on ESPN+ PPV: https://t.co/UU0nUgr0j4 ] pic.twitter.com/G6osEkaF3y
— UFC (@ufc) April 6, 2023
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 287 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 287: “Pereira vs. Adesanya 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.