UFC 281: Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira – preview and betting tips

Israel Adesanya has another tough task ahead of him and another big defense. This time Alex Pereira wants to take his title. The fight is all the more spicy because the UFC stars already know each other well. The current champion has lost twice to his challenger. How will this fight turn out and what to bet on?

UFC 281 is just around the corner and we’re in for a lot of fun. Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira will provide the main event. Two fighters who don’t like each other and who have a history together, having fought twice in the past.

Adesanya will be making his seventh defense. However, quite possibly the toughest. No one has been able to compete with his attitude. His movement and distance keeping is a feast for the eyes. Accuracy, precision, intelligence. It all describes him.

But Pereira has already beaten the middleweight champion twice in the Glory organization. And he believes he can do it again. So it’s possible that for the first time, someone can compete with Adesanya in the stand-up game. It’s just that this will be an MMA fight, and the champion has been in MMA for a much longer period of time, which could play a major role.

Plus, we have to take into account that the UFC actually pushed Pereira to this fight, literally. He hasn’t faced more or less anyone from the top middleweight division. The Brazilian currently boasts a 6-1 record, having only had three fights in the UFC.

Not to be overlooked is the fact that Pereira has won four of his fights in the last two years. Prior to that, he hadn’t appeared in MMA in four years.

And Pereira will want to do the same. The main thing working in his favour is that he will be heavier and stronger in the fight. Plus, he’s got a bigger arm span. However, even though he won both of his fights against Adesanya earlier, the champion looked slightly better in those fights. In the latter fight though, only until he got knocked out by a knockout blow. That’s where Pereira’s strength lies.

However, the small gloves may change everything in Adesanya’s favor. There’s a better chance he can shut Pereira down in them than he did in kickboxing. He’ll just have to be careful.

The chances of this fight ending on points are really not that great. And given the enticing odds, this bet is a long shot.