Tag: UFC 287

Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya middleweight title rematch official for UFC 287 main event

Alex Pereira will put his UFC middleweight title on the line for the first time in a rematch against former champ Israel Adesanya in April.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] and [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] will run it back in April.

The UFC middleweight title will be on the line in the main event of UFC 287 on April 8 as the champion Pereira (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) faces off against former middleweight champ Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC). UFC president Dana White officially announced the bout Friday.

The pay-per-view event is expected to take place in Miami, although the venue has yet to be officially announced.

Pereira defeated Adesanya by knockout in the fifth round in the main event of UFC 281 to become the middleweight champion. It was one of the best comebacks of the year, capping off an incredible 2022 that saw Pereira elevate from unranked fighter to champion over the course of three fights. MMA Junkie’s 2022 Male Fighter of the Year is undefeated through four fights under the UFC banner.

Adesanya suffered his first loss in the middleweight division against Pereira. The former champion racked up five defenses of the title before his streak came to an end against the man who defeated him twice in kickboxing. Now, in their fourth combat sports showdown, Adesanya will attempt to reclaim his title by defeating Pereira.

With the addition, the UFC 287 lineup includes:

  • Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya – for middleweight title
  • Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal
  • Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
  • Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodrigues
  • Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Gerald Meeerschaert vs. Joe Pyfer
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Loopy Godinez
  • Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta
  • Steve Garcia vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke

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Jorge Masvidal returns against Gilbert Burns in co-main event of UFC 287

Jorge Masvidal vs. Gilbert Burns official for UFC 287.

[autotag]Jorge Masvidal[/autotag] is back in action.

The former multiple time UFC title challenger and BMF champion has been booked for a return to the octagon, as he’s set to take on [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag] in a key welterweight matchup. The bout will serve as the co-main event for UFC 287 on April 8.

A venue and location have not been announced for the card.

UFC president Dana White revealed the news on Friday evening. Also, on that card, Alex Pereira defends his title in an immediate rematch against Israel Adesanya in the main event.

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Masvidal (35-16 MMA, 12-9 UFC) hasn’t fought since March 2022 when he lost a unanimous decision to Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 272. Prior to that, Masvidal had a pair of back to back defeats to then champion Kamaru Usman.

“Gamebred” has a pending legal case stemming from his alleged attack on Covington back in March in Miami Beach. He faces charges on single counts of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm and criminal mischief. If found guilty, Masvidal could face up to 15 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

Burns (20-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) is coming off a quick submission win over Neil Magny last Saturday at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prior to that, he competed in a barnburner against Khamzat Chimaev in April 2022. Although he lost the bout, Burns’ stock skyrocketed after taking the dominant, unbeaten star to the brink. That was Burns’ only fight in 2022.

The latest UFC 287 lineup now includes:

  • Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya – for middleweight title
  • Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal
  • Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
  • Christian Rodriguez vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
  • Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Loopy Godinez
  • Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta
  • Steve Garcia vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
  • Gerald Meerschaert vs. Joe Pyfer

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Adrian Yanez hyped to see Jamahal Hill win UFC title: ‘It kind of solidifies what the Contender Series is about’

Adrian Yanez thinks Jamahal Hill becoming the first Dana White’s Contender Series UFC champ will impact other show alums.

[autotag]Adrian Yanez[/autotag] was already confident, but now even more so.

The rising UFC bantamweight contender just got a boost of morale by watching fellow Dana White’s Contender Series alum Jamahal Hill win the UFC light heavyweight title this past Saturday at UFC 283 in Brazil. Hill’s victory has Yanez (16-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) thinking he can do the same in his own division.

Yanez, who won a UFC contract through DWCS in 2020, believes Hill’s win proved that championship talent can come out of the show, something that was very much needed.

“For the longest time, the Contender Series guys, some had gotten up there, but a lot of them weren’t able to get it,” Yanez told MMA Junkie Radio. “A lot of them have gotten super close, even to the point that they’re in title contention, but then they lose that fight.

“Yeah, I’m really happy to see Jamahal Hill go out there and get the win, because it kind of solidifies what the Contender Series is about. They’ve had so many ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ champs but finally have a Dana White Contender Series champ. … It shows the Contender Series is going to start building a whole bunch of champs. There’s going to be an influx of champs. For me, I’m happy that he broke that barrier for a lot of us.”

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But beyond the personal confidence Hill’s win brought to Yanez, the 29-year-old believes this will also benefit current and future UFC fighters who enter the promotion through DWCS.

“It’s going to open a door for an influence of fighters now knowing that it’s possible,” Yanez explained. “… There are many Contender Series fighters that get into the UFC but are quickly taken out. There’s going to be a lot more confidence in these guys knowing, ‘Hey. I’m here. I can make it. Not just be a one-contract fighter. I can be here and be here for a long time.'”

Yanez returns to the octagon on March 4 at UFC 285 against veteran Rob Font. It’s a big fight in the bantamweight division, especially for Yanez who’s unbeaten in the UFC.

Yanez would’ve liked to be the first DWCS contract winner to become UFC champion. But either way, he’s happy for Hill – as he’s a big fan of his.

“Of course you always strive to be that first one, but the fact that it was Hill, it makes it a lot better, because I like his style, and I like the way he fights, and he goes out there and puts it on the line,” Yanez said. “To see him go out there and get that strap was really, really cool.”

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Joe Pyfer gets second octagon assignment vs. Gerald Meerschaert at UFC 287

Dana White’s Contender Series standout Joe Pyfer has booked his second UFC bout.

Dana White’s Contender Series standout [autotag]Joe Pyfer[/autotag] has booked his second UFC assignment.

Pyfer is set to take on [autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag] in a middleweight bout at UFC 287, which does not have an announced location or venue but takes place April 8 and airs on pay-per-view following prelims expected on ESPN and ESPN+.

MMA Junkie confirmed the booking between Pyfer (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Meerschaert (35-15 MMA, 10-7 UFC) with two people close to the situation following an initial report from Twitter user Jake Noecker. They requested anonymity since the UFC has yet to make an announcement.

Pyfer, 26, came off DWCS with the affection of the UFC president behind him. He parlayed that into a successful octagon debut in September, when he defeated Alen Amedovski by first-round TKO at UFC Fight Night 210.

He’ll get a sizable step up in competition, however, with Meerschaert, 35, who has the most submission wins and second-most finishes overall in UFC middleweight history. Meerschaert is coming off a third-round submission of Bruno Silva at UFC on ESPN 41 in August.

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The latest UFC 287 lineup now includes:

  • Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Loopy Godinez
  • Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta
  • Christian Rodriguez vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
  • Steve Garcia vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis
  • Gerald Meerschaert vs. Joe Pyfer

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.

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Chris Curtis, Kelvin Gastelum booked to fight at UFC 287 in April

Kelvin Gastelum is back on the UFC’s schedule, giving Chris Curtis a chance to pick up the highest profile win of his career.

[autotag]Kelvin Gastelum[/autotag] is back on the UFC’s schedule, giving [autotag]Chris Curtis[/autotag] a chance to pick up the highest profile win of his career.

Gastelum (16-8 MMA, 11-8 UFC) and Curtis (30-9 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will meet in a middleweight bout April 8 at UFC 287. Gastelum posted about the matchup on social media, as did Curtis’ Xtreme Couture coach, Eric Nicksick, following an initial report by MMA Mania.

Gastelum, 31, had been set to kick off 2023 headlining the first event of the year, but he withdrew from his UFC Fight Night 217 bout vs. Nassourdine Imavov after his tooth was knocked out in training. Gastelum has been on a downswing in his career even since losing the Fight of the Year to Israel Adesanya for the interim middleweight title in April 2019. He’s lost five of his past six bouts in that time.

Curtis, 35, is looking to remain on a roll, having won nine of his past 10 bouts overall. He most recently knocked out Joaquin Buckley with punches in the second round of their fight this past December at UFC 282.

Below is the updated UFC 287 lineup:

  • Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Loopy Godinez
  • Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta
  • Christian Rodriguez vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
  • Steve Garcia vs. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke
  • Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.

Record setting Raul Rosas Jr. targeted for second assignment at UFC 287

MMA Junkie’s 2022 Newcomer of the Year, Raul Rosas Jr., has his second promotional appearance in the works for UFC 287.

After a successful UFC debut, the undefeated, record-setting [autotag]Raul Rosas Jr.[/autotag] is targeted for his second bout with the promotion.

At UFC 287 on April 8, MMA Junkie’s 2022 Newcomer of the Year Rosas Jr. (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is on tap to face Christian Rodriguez in a bantamweight clash. The pay-per-view event does not yet have a confirmed location or venue.

MMA Junkie confirmed with multiple sources that the fight is in the works, following a first report from Eurosport Netherlands.

In his first appearance, Rosas Jr., 18, set a record as the youngest fighter to win a UFC bout by submitting Jay Perrin in the first round at UFC 282. Rosas Jr.’s debut came less than three months after his unanimous decision victory over Mando Gutierrez on Dana White’s Contender Series.

Rodriguez (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was victorious in his second UFC outing, bouncing back impressively after a unanimous decision loss in his debut to Jonathan Pearce. In October, Rodriguez, who is also a DWCS veteran, finished Joshua Weems in the first round by submission.

With the addition, the UFC 287 lineup includes:

  • Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Luana Pinheiro
  • Christian Rodriguez vs. Raul Rosas Jr.
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lupita Godinez
  • Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta

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Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta on tap for UFC 287 in April

Rising lightweights Ignacio Bahamondes and Nikolas Motta have been booked for UFC 287.

Rising lightweights [autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag] and [autotag]Nikolas Motta[/autotag] have been booked for UFC 287.

Bahamondes (13-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets Motta (13-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at the April 8 pay-per-view event. A location and venue are yet to be announced. Both fighters confirmed the news on social media after an initial report from ESPN Deportes.

Since he dropped his UFC debut to John Makdessi in April 2021, 25-year-old Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Bahamondes has won two straight:  a spinning wheel kick knockout of Roosevelt Roberts, followed by his first career submission over Rong Zhu in February 2022.

Motta also dropped his promotional debut after he punched his ticket to the UFC through the Contender Series. The Brazilian was stopped by Jim Miller, but rebounded with a first-round knockout of Cameron VanCamp this past September.

The latest UFC 287 lineup now includes:

  • Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Loopy Godinez
  • Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez
  • Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Nikolas Motta

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.

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Michelle Waterson-Gomez to return at UFC 287 against Luana Pinheiro

The lineup is in its infancy, but UFC 287 gained Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Luana Pinheiro to its slowly-growing fight card.

With the UFC’s 2023 calendar underway, the promotion continues to chip away at its April schedule.

The most recent addition is a strawweight tilt between veteran [autotag]Michelle Waterson-Gomez[/autotag] and rising Brazilian [autotag]Luana Pinheiro[/autotag] for UFC 287, an event scheduled for April 8 at a yet-to-be-announced location and venue.

Two people with knowledge of the booking recently informed MMA Junkie of the matchup but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto first reported the booking Monday.

Waterson-Gomez (18-10 MMA, 6-6 UFC) looks to bounce back from a quick July submission loss against Amanda Lemos. The defeat was the fourth in five outings for Waterson-Gomez, with the solo victory a split decision over Angela Hill.

Pinheiro (10-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) was signed to the UFC in 2020 after a contract-earning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series. After a debut win by disqualification against Randa Markos, Pinheiro defeated Sam Hughes by unanimous decision in November 2021. Pinheiro was then booked to fight Jessica Penne in April. However, the bout was canceled.

The latest UFC 287 lineup now includes:

  • Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
  • Cynthia Calvillo vs. Loopy Godinez
  • Luana Pinheiro vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.

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