Tag: UFC 281

Michael Chandler: I might slow the pace vs. Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 – but ‘don’t hold me to it’

Michael Chandler’s chaotic style has thrilled fans, but he said he might alter his strategy – maybe – against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]’s chaotic style has thrilled fans, but has also cost him at times.

In his four octagon appearances, Chandler (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) has fought for the lightweight title and had a Fight of the Year contender against Justin Gaethje, as well as a Knockout of the Year contender against Tony Ferguson. He meets [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] on Saturday’s UFC 281 main card in another fight that is expected to be a barnburner.

Lightweight contender Beneil Dariush critiqued Chandler for focusing too much on being entertaining, but Chandler thinks it’s worked for him more than it’s harmed him. However, the standout wrestler did allude to his intent on taking a more cautious approach against Poirier – he just can’t promise.

“I love what I do and I do think the way that I fight works out better more often than not,” Chandler told Yahoo Sports. “There’s times that I want to take my foot off the gas, be a little bit more of a veteran, and I think you might see that in this fight. Don’t hold me to it, but we’ll see what happens.

“I do like to start fast, and then maybe we’ll settle in a little bit. But we’ll definitely start fast as always.”

Chandler’s tendency to start fast has resulted in 13 first-round finishes and he plans on storming out of the gate against Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC), too.

“Dustin Poirier is not a crazy hard puzzle to solve. I don’t say that it’s not a hard fight, but he’s very brilliant with the basics,” Chandler said. “He’s very good at striking. He’s very good in the grappling and grappling defense department.

“There’s not a lot of places where you can exploit Dustin Poirier because he’s got a wealth of knowledge and a wealth of experience, but I’m going to go out there, start fast, get in his face fast, hopefully make him second guess himself pretty fast, mix it up – do exactly what I need to do in all areas of mixed martial arts, and go out there and get my hand raised. But I do think I get the finish.”

UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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Israel Adesanya takes credit for Alex Pereira’s success in MMA: ‘Without me, he wouldn’t be here’

Israel Adesanya believes he’s done plenty for Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] thinks he’s done a lot for the career of his upcoming opponent, Alex Pereira.

The UFC middleweight champion believes he’s partly responsible for Pereira’s quick rise to success in MMA, specifically the UFC. Adesanya (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC), who has two losses against Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in the kickboxing world – once by KO and the other by decision, fights the Brazilian once again. However, this time it will be MMA, Saturday in the main event of UFC 281 in New York. It’s Adesanya’s sixth defense of his UFC middleweight belt.

“Without me, he wouldn’t be here,” Adesanya said on The MMA Hour. “Without me, he would’ve been exposed a long time ago. I cleared the way. I cleared the division, so there was not really anyone else to fight. I cleared the way for him to get to the top.”

Pereira has only been in the UFC for a year, and he’s already competing for a title. He made his debut in November 2021 knocking out Andreas Michailidis, and since has defeated Bruno Silva and Sean Strickland.

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Given their past history, in which Adesanya came out with the short end of the stick, this fight has become a personal matter for the champion. Adesanya believes this bout will play a key role in his legacy.

“It’s personal,” Adesanya said. “This is about me and my legacy. This is about re-writing history even though it is history and I never chased this. This is about me re-writing a new path in history and just showing people what I can really do, because, again, ya’ll must have forgot. … This is personal. I’ve said less. He can do all the tennis ball videos and hoverboard but for me, I’m just like, ‘Cool, you do you.’ He has bragging rights, so let him do that, but yeah.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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UFC 281: Make your predictions for Adesanya vs. Pereira, Esparza vs. Weili title fights

We want your predictions for UFC 281 in New York with Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira and Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili title fights.

We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC 281 event in New York.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC 281 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

Make your picks for the fights below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

UFC 281 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Israel Adesanya (sort of) mows down a beehive

In the first episode of “Embedded” ahead of UFC 281 in New York, Israel Adesanya sets up shop in New Jersey, Alex Pereira sets up shop in Connecticut and more.

The UFC is back with its latest pay-per-view and a return to New York, which means the popular “Embedded” fight-week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

The main event is a middleweight title fight between champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and challenger [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC). They have met twice before – but in kickboxing. Pereira has a pair of wins over Adesanya in those bouts.

The co-main event is a women’s strawweight title fight between champ [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and former titleholder [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC). In addition, [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) in a key lightweight bout, and former lightweight champion [autotag]Frankie Edgar[/autotag] (24-10-1 MMA, 18-10-1 UFC) fights in what likely will be his final bout when he meets [autotag]Chris Gutierrez[/autotag] (18-3-2 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) at bantamweight.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Champ Israel Adesanya and his UFC 281 teammates get Jersey tough; foe Alex Pereira trains in the Tri-State area as well. Champ Carla Esparza preps to face a powerhouse, Zhang Weili, who simulates fight night in Las Vegas.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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Michael Bisping: Dustin Poirier stops Michael Chandler, who has ‘shown to be a little bit chinny’

Michael Bisping expects Dustin Poirier to test Michael Chandler’s chin at UFC 281.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] expects [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] to test [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag]’s chin at UFC 281.

Poirier (28-7 MMA, 20-6 UFC) faces Chandler (23-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC) on Saturday’s pay-per-view main card at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

Both Poirier and Chandler have engaged in their fair share of barnburners, but Bisping thinks they’ve taken a toll on Chandler more.

“Obviously (Poirier is) looking for the TKO, but Michael Chandler is very tough. However, he has been dropped,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “He got dropped off Tony Ferguson, he got dropped off Charles Oliveira. He has been shown to be a little bit chinny. Tony Ferguson is a great fighter, but I think the best days are probably behind him.”

He continued, “Dustin Poirier has shown time and time again that he can wear down great fighters like Conor McGregor, like Justin Gaethje, and he can put them away. If he could do that, I think he can put Michael Chandler away. I say Dustin Poirier gets a TKO in Round 3.”

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Chandler possesses a decorated wrestling background but hasn’t often used it as of late. However, Bisping thinks he’ll need to vary his attack against Poirier, whom he sees as the superior striker.

“Dustin Poirier has the better boxing,” Bisping said. “He’s got the longer reach but only by one inch. When you see Michael Chandler, he’s a shorter guy, but he’s got a 71-inch reach. Dustin Poirier is 72, so not much of an advantage there. But I just think he puts together better combinations. Very, very fluid footwork. He likes to switch stances. He likes to glide in and out. …

“For Chandler, he’s got to mix in takedowns. He’s got to go from the boxing to the takedowns. Lots of level changes, lots of feints, lots of fakes. Use the hands, set up the level changes.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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Spinning Back Clique: UFC 281 top storylines, UFC Fight Night 214 impact performances, more

Join us for this week’s live stream of “Spinning Back Clique” looking at the biggest news and topics in MMA focused around UFC 281.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura and Simon Samano will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the top storylines heading into UFC 281, the top performances from UFC Fight Night 214, and more.

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s episode in the video above.

 

MMA Junkie Radio #3309: Guest Christian Lee, UFC Fight Night 214 recap, UFC 281 preview, more

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.


Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,308, the fellas bring on ONE Championship titleholder [autotag]Christian Lee[/autotag]. In addition, they looked back at UFC Fight Night 214, looked ahead to UFC 281, discussed Shane Burgos and Mark Hunt, and much more.

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

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Israel Adesanya before UFC 281: Kickboxing losses to Alex Pereira were ‘me not staying true to my style’

Israel Adesanya heads into his UFC 281 title defense knowing Alex Pereira’s gotten the best of him twice before.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] doesn’t rate [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s MMA career too highly just yet.

That’s because Pereira has competed just seven times as a professional and three times in the octagon. But after Pereira knocked out streaking contender Sean Strickland in the first round at UFC 276, it was enough to earn him a shot at Adesanya’s title in Saturday’s UFC 281 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“I don’t know about his MMA career. I never watched until he got in the UFC,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Like a four – four or five (out of 10). I think that last one brought it to a five.”

Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) defeated Adesanya (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) twice in kickboxing, once by knockout. Their first fight was a close decision. Adesanya had Pereira hurt against the ropes to force an 8-second count in their rematch before Pereira rallied to knock him out in Round 3.

“In that moment, I got too hungry and then I blew my load a little bit,” Adesanya said. “In the third round, he did his work, and I’ve given him thumbs up for that. He came in ready, walking me down, throwing, throwing, and then went boom, caught me, and that was all she wrote.”

He continued, “That was me not staying true to my style. I know how to touch this guy bad. I know how to vary my attacks, and I know how to fight properly. I might just jab and leg kick him (laughs).”

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Adesanya thinks Pereira was saved by the eight-second count when he was rocked in their rematch. Now that their rubber match is taking place in MMA, Adesanya hopes to inflict as much damage as possible.

Adesanya jokingly asked the UFC to bring back referee Steve Mazzagatti, who was known to let fights go on for too long.

“That last fight we had, I was touching him, I had him rocked,” Adesanya said. “There’s no referee to save – Dana, bring back Steve Mazzagatti. Bring back Steve Mazzagatti to ref my fight, because I want to hear ‘fight back’ as I’m punching him in the face like 50 times. I want to hear ‘Fight back, you need to move Alex, you need to move, fight back, now hook him up.’ I wanna hear that like 50 times before they drag me off of him.”

UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

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VIDEO: UFC 281 ‘Countdown’ for Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira

Watch the “Countdown” segment ahead of the anticipated UFC 281 showdown between middleweight champ Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.

Did you miss the debut of UFC 281 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the main event preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the middleweight title fight between champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]. It’s the first time Adesanya and Pereira will meet inside the cage, but they’re no strangers to each other, with Pereira owning two kickboxing wins over Adesanya.

UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

“Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.

VIDEO: UFC 281 ‘Countdown’ for Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili

Watch the “Countdown” segment ahead of the anticipated UFC 281 title fight between strawweight champ Carla Esparza and Zhang Weili.

Did you miss the debut of UFC 281 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the co-main event preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the strawweight title fight between champion [autotag]Carla Esparza[/autotag] and former champ [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]. Esparza looks to make her first title defense as a betting underdog after she reclaimed the title from Rose Namajunas earlier this year.

UFC 281 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

“Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.