UFC 287 LIVE: Adesanya knocks out Pereira – result

Follow the fallout: Adesanya regains the middleweight belt from long-time rival Pereira, after Jorge Masvidal retires with a loss to Gilbert Burns

Adesanya and Pereira face off at weigh-in ahead of UFC 287

Israel Adesanya knocked Alex Pereira out cold to regain the middleweight title in the main event of UFC 287.

It was the fourth fight between the pair, with Pereira beating Adesanya twice in kickboxing before following the Nigerian-New Zealander into mixed martial arts, where he took Adesanya’s UFC title with a TKO in November.

But at the fourth time of asking, Adesanya finally beat his long-time rival, freezing Pereira with a right hook in Round 2 before dropping the champion with a one-two and finishing the fight with a hammer fist.

In the co-main event, Jorge Masvidal suffered a points loss to Gilbert Burns before retiring from MMA. Masvidal, in front of a home crowd in Miami, called time on a 20-year career and praised former US president Donald Trump, who was ringside.

Trump sat in the front row with Mike Tyson and UFC president Dana White, and the Miami-Dade Arena crowd erupted when the 76-year-old arrived.

Re-live updates and see full results from UFC 287, below. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.

UFC 287 LIVE: Adesanya vs Pereira

• Israel Adesanya knocks Alex Pereira out cold to regain UFC middleweight title
• Adesanya beats Pereira on fourth try, after two kickboxing losses and one in MMA
• Adesanya stops Pereira with vicious right hooks in Round 2 after ‘playing possum’
• Joe Rogan hails knockout as ‘one of the greatest I’ve ever seen’
• Hometown fighter Jorge Masvidal retires after points loss to Gilbert Burns
• Crowd erupts as ex-president Donald Trump sits in front row with Mike Tyson

[9 April 2023 04:18 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland knocks out Santiago Ponzinibbio

Kevin Holland def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via third-round KO (punches, 3:16).

[9 April 2023 04:17 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio

Round 3

HOLLAND WITH THE FINISH! He catches a kick, comes over the top with a right cross, then tags Ponzinibbio with a left hook after the Argentine spins around!

Ponzinibbio falls face first, eats a few more punches, and the referee waves it off! Ponzinibbio comes to and complains, but that was a good stoppage.

[9 April 2023 04:15 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio

Round 3

Ponzinibbio fires off two hard low kicks, early in this final round. Another one, and Holland felt that for sure.

Holland responds with kicks of his own – one to the leg, one to the body.

More leg kicks from Ponzinibbio, while Holland misses with wide left hooks.

[9 April 2023 04:11 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio

Round 2

Again Ponzinibbio catches a kick, but this time it’s him who follows up with a back fist! No connection, though.

Now the Argentine drives Holland to the fence, but he can’t hold him there for long.

[9 April 2023 04:09 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio

Before this fight, Robbie Lawler’s classic against Rory MacDonald was inducted into the fight wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.

[9 April 2023 04:08 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio

For what it’s worth, Verdict MMA’s global scorecard agreed with the judges that Christian Rodriguez was a worthy winner over Raul Rosas Jr.

Verdict MMA’s global scorecard for Raul Rosas Jr vs Christian Rodriguez (Verdict MMA)

[9 April 2023 04:05 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio

Round 1

Holland keeps looking for a left hook as Ponzinibbio steps into range. Holland has the height advantage, but the Argentine is the thicker man.

Big left hook from Ponzinibbio now.

He grabs a kick by Holland, and the American smashes Ponzinibbio with a back fist!!

Ponzinibbio drops to the mat but survives to the buzzer, with just a few seconds left on the clock when he ate that strike! Wow!

[9 April 2023 03:58 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio

Next up is Kevin Holland vs Santiago Ponzinibbio at welterweight.

Holland and Jorge Masvidal, who fights in tonight’s co-main event, were separated by security at a hotel in Miami on Wednesday.

Full story:

[9 April 2023 03:55 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Donald Trump sits in front row as crowd cheers ex-president

Donald Trump was greeted by huge cheers as he sat in the front row at UFC 287 on Saturday night, alongside Mike Tyson and Dana White in the Miami-Dade Arena.

Former US president Trump is known to have a friendship with UFC president White and has attended numerous events staged by the mixed martial arts promotion.

Trump was also visited by UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal earlier this week. Miami native Masvidal, who is on the UFC 287 card, visited Trump at the ex-president’s home in Mar-a-Lago after attending one of the 76-year-old’s rallies.

This week, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records around hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign.

[9 April 2023 03:44 · Alex Pattle]

UFC 287 LIVE: Christian Rodriguez hands Raul Rosas Jr first loss

Christian Rodriguez def. Raul Rosas Jr via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).