There are bouts with divisional significance at stake, the final appearance for a UFC legend and a lightweight tussle between fighters who don’t care for each other. And that’s before we get to a pair of championship fights at UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira inside the Mecca of sports Madison Square Garden.
The headline fight features former kickboxing rivals with the middleweight strap on the line. Israel Adasanya is unbeaten in the division and one of if not the best pound for pound fighters in the UFC. He’ll tangle with longtime foe Alex Pereira with so many questions about the rivalry hoping to get answered. Adasanya has dominated as a big favorite in most of his recent fights but he’s only -210 on the UFC betting line.
We could say three champs will square off in the co-main event with current women’s strawweight belt holder Carla Esparza defending her title against former champ Zhang Weili. Back in May Esparza claimed the title for a second time with a split decision over Rose Namajunas, who she also beat in 2014 to win the inaugural strawweight championship. At -350 Zheng is a big favorite to take out the champ.
There will be plenty of action inside the Octagon with 15 scheduled bouts making up the fight card on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from Madison Square Garden in New York. Early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+. Preliminary round matches are on ESPN News and ESPN+ starting at 8 p.m. ET with the main card on ESPN pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET. Betting options for every fight on the ticket are available at BookMaker.eu when you’re ready to place a wager.
UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira Odds
Main Card
Alex Pereira +165 vs. Israel Adesanya -210
Weili Zhang -350 vs. Carla Esparza +261
Michael Chandler +176 vs. Dustin Poirier -225
Frankie Edgar +176 vs. Chris Gutierrez -225
Claudio Puelles +127 vs. Dan Hooker -160
The ticket has all kinds of storylines but the battle between Adesanya (23-1) and Periera (6-1) is where it is because it has everything. First, it’s a championship matchup that fans have been waiting to see. Adesanya is undefeated as a middleweight and has just one setback in 24 professional fights. He KOd Robert Whittaker in a unifying bout in 2019 and has successfully defended his title five times, including twice this year with decisions over Whittaker and most recently Jared Cannonier.
He’s not as experienced inside the octagon, but Pereira did something few have done: beat Adesanya in a combat sport. In fact Pereira did it twice during their kickboxing days by KO and decision with many now wondering if Pereira is destined to take out the title holder. Adesanya didn’t seem overly concerned when talking about the previous battles, noting they were in an entirely different sport and many years ago. Adesanya’s experience inside the octagon and his ability to defend can’t be overlooked.
UFC Prediction: Israel Adesanya / Decision
The champ Esparza (20-6) is a +261 underdog in the strawweight matchup with Zhang (22-3). Esparza is looking to extend her second run longer than her first. After claiming the initial division title, Esparza was KOd by Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her first title defense and it’s taken her seven years to get back. Tough to get to the mat, Zhang negates her opponent’s strength and her powerful punches do plenty of damage. There should be plenty of fireworks in the lightweight bout between favorite Dustin Poirier (28-7) and Michael Chandler (23-7). It’s clear there’s no love lost between the two and their differences will be settled in an expected bloodbath. Additionally the UFC will say goodbye to one of its best fighters when Frankie Edgar (23-10-1) takes his last walk against favorite Chris Gutierrez (18-3-2).
UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira Odds
Prelims
Brad Riddell -110 vs. Renato Moicano -120
Ryan Spann +165 vs. Dominick Reyes -210
Erin Blanchfield -420 vs. Molly McCann +304
Wellington Turman +165 vs. Andre Petroski -210
Not long ago Dominick Reyes (12-3) was fighting for the light heavyweight crown. A controversial unanimous decision loss started a downfall that has him working his way back up the ranks in the prelims. Three straight losses, the last a spinning elbow KO from Jiri Prochazka that messed up Reyes’s face put him on the shelf. After 18 months Reyes returns to the octagon as a favorite over Ryan Spann (20-7) in what should be the best fight in the preliminary round.
UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira Odds
Early Prelims
Matt Frevola-105 vs. Ottman Azaitar -125
Karolina Kowalkiewicz -120 vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez -110
Mike Trizano +131 vs. Seung Woo Choi -165
Julio Arce +158 vs. Montel Jackson -200
Carlos Ulberg -128 vs. Nicolae Negumereanu -102
A lightweight tussle between Matt Frevola (9-3-1) and unbeaten Ottman Azaitar (13-0) highlight the early prelims. Azaitar’s first two fights in the octagon resulted in first round stoppages and we’ll see how good he is as the competition gets stiffer. The two combined to finish 17 of their 22 victories making the chances slim that this one reaches the judges.
