One of the most dangerous strikers in MMA will look to take down his rival while holding onto the UFC middleweight title. Alex Pereira defends that title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 on April 8. The fight will take place at the Miami-Dade Arena in Florida and airs on ESPN+ PPV.
In 2016, Adesanya and Pereira fought at GLORY of Heroes 1 in China. Adesanya out-struck his opponent, but Pereira landed combinations and shots that caused damage and ultimately secured the unanimous decision win.
Pereira then faced Adesanya at GLORY of Heroes 7 in 2017, and in the third, he delivered a devastating shot to the chin that dropped Adesanya.
In their third fight, at UFC 281, Adesanya again controlled the bout, but it wasn’t until the fifth round that Pereira landed brutal shots that forced Adesanya into the cage. Unprotected blows reined in, and the referee had seen enough, awarding Pereira the win.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 287 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
Pereira has six wins via KO in MMA. Preparing for a striker like “Poatan,” Adesanya’s team has compared him to some of the greatest punchers in combat sports.
"One of the hardest things in the sport is to fight someone like Pereira,” Eugene Bareman, Adesanya's coach, told It's Time For Sports via Daily Mail. “People like him don't really exist. In your fighting career, you will fight one or two guys like that. One George Foreman, one Mike Tyson. If you're lucky, you'll fight one of them. It is one of the hardest things to do in the sport because even though you see many clear paths to victory, they have a special gift. And that special gift is powerful.
“The ability to take you out with one shot has to be respected and is a superpower that not everybody has. So I understand the magnitude of what we're trying to do, and we're up for the challenge.”
Here's what you need to know regarding UFC 287, including the time, channel, and card.
What time is UFC 287: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 today?
- Date: Saturday, April 8 | Sunday, April 9
- FIGHT PASS Prelims: 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT
- Prelims: 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 2 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT
- Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET | 4:15 a.m. GMT | 3:15 p.m. AEDT (approx.)
UFC 287 takes place on April 8. The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET GMT | 9 a.m. AEDT, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT. The UFC 287 main card will begin at 10 p.m. ET | 2 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEDT.
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Pereira and Adesanya should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET | 4:15 a.m. GMT | 3:15 p.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch UFC 287: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Sat. April 8 | ESPN+, ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Sat. April 8 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sun. April 9 | BT Sport |
| Australia | Sun. April 9 | Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
The main card for UFC 287 is available in the U.S. and Mexico on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for a pay-per-view cost. Earlier fights are viewable live on ESPN+.
In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass
In the United Kingdom, the main card will be available on BT Sport, with the prelims available on UFC Fight Pass.
In Australia, the main card will be on Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.
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Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2 PPV price: How much does UFC 287 cost?
- $79.99 (current ESPN+ subscribers)
- $124.98 (new subscribers)
In the U.S., the UFC 287 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 287 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $124.98 for the UFC 287 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 287 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $12.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $79.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $124.98, then $99.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle | $79.99, then $12.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
UFC 287 fight card
Main card
- Alex Pereira (c) vs. Israel Adesanya 2 for the UFC middleweight title
- Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal; Welterweights
- Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez; Bantamweights
- Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio; Welterweights
- Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez; Bantamweights
Prelims
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Chris Curtis; Middleweights
- Michelle Waterson vs. Luana Pinheiro; Strawweights
- Gerald Meerschaert vs. Joe Pyfer; Middleweights
- Karl Williams vs. Chase Sherman; Heavyweights
FIGHT PASS Prelims
- Cynthia Calvillo vs. Lupita Godinez; Strawweights
- Shayilan Nuerdanbieke vs. Steve Garcia; Featherweighs
- Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Trey Ogden; Catchweight
- Jaqueline Amorim vs. Sam Hughes; Strawweights
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