UFC 287: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya – preview and betting tips

UFC 287 is just around the corner and with it, the anticipated title rematch pitting Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya against each other. Unusually, Adesanya enters the bout not in the role of champion, but in the role of challenger. Once again, however, he is the favourite. Will he live up to his role?

Two top middleweights facing each other. For the second time in the UFC, for the fourth time in their combat sports careers. Alex Pereira has his first defense, and he’s up against Israel Adesanya. Quite possibly hungrier than ever.

Adesanya is clearly the better fighter. In virtually all of his fights with Pereira, he’s always had the upper hand. But in one he was “edged” by the judges, in the other two the Brazilian caught him with his brutal left hand.

As for their duel in the UFC, Adesanya was clearly the better fighter. He moved great, scored great points in the fight, just didn’t have the power to finish the bigger Pereira. When he hurt his leg in the fifth round and limited his ability to move, it was clear that was the end of him.

And what to expect from the rematch? Adesanya is sure to once again be brimming with great movement, once again have a better eye and once again be able to score the fight. He’ll have to take huge care not to let Pereira get too close to him though.

Moreover, the former champion has already focused a lot on wrestling in his preparation and can be expected to try and wear the Brazilian down, or get on the ground and try and control him there. In theory, he should be at his safest there.

But we can’t underestimate Pereira. After all, he’s training with Glover Teixeira, a top-notch ground-and-pound fighter who can practice all sorts of techniques with his charge that maybe Adesanya won’t count on.

The head will be very important in this fight. Pereira is confident, Adesanya doesn’t look so confident anymore, but he looks hungry and that may be the right thing to do. It’s not impossible that he could go after his opponent’s finish himself and not risk the Brazilian doing the same to him.

Source: UFC, Sherdog