UFC 287: Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya set for Saturday’s showdown

Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will take on long-time rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287, poised to reclaim his middleweight belt Saturday at Miami-Dade Arena on April 8 at 10 p.m. ET.

Both fighters boast impressive records and highlight-reel knockouts. The two have faced each other twice in kickboxing matches, with Pereira winning both times.

As the fight date approaches, excitement is mounting among MMA enthusiasts, eagerly waiting to see who will come out on top in what is expected to be a thrilling showdown.

Pereira vs Adesanya 2 – Rise to the Occasion | UFC 287

Adesanya vs. Pereira betting odds

Adesanya quickly gained prominence in his UFC career, earning a title shot in just his fourth appearance with the promotion. His flashy entrances, clever trash talk and knockout victory over Robert Whittaker in October 2019 helped solidify his status as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

Heading into the UFC 287’s main event, Adesanya is favored to win. As of this writing, Caesars Sportsbook currently has him listed at -135 to win the fight outright.

Despite his previous knockout loss to Pereira in the fifth round of their previous bout at UFC 281, the sportsbooks are still favoring “The Last Stylebender” to regain the UFC Middleweight Champion title this weekend.

The 33-year-old fighter from New Zealand has been true to his word, consistently defending his championship belt against highly-ranked contenders.

Meanwhile, Pereira also secured a title shot in his fourth appearance with the promotion. His knockout victory over Sean Strickland in July 2021 convinced the UFC that the Brazilian power puncher was ready for a title shot.

Pereira currently sits at +115 underdog (per Caesars) for the rematch against Adesanya next Saturday, meaning that a $100 bet on Pereira to win would yield a $115 profit if he manages to pull off the upset.

It’s worth noting that Pereira’s betting odds have changed over time, with some sportsbooks initially listing him as a bigger underdog. When the UFC 287 fight was first announced, Pereira was listed at +150 to win the rematch. However, the odds have shifted in his favor as the fight approaches.