Nigerian-Kiwi star Israel Adesanya is the most attractive striker martial arts has ever seen. The bulk of MMA fights, even at the top level, are clumsy and difficult to watch; by the third round, punches and kicks flop through the air like you’re witnessing a fight between inflatable tube men who are enticing you to take advantage of low introductory APRs. On the other hand, Adesanya is exact.

He stands at a lean 6 feet 4 inches and has the hip mobility of a young child. He moves with the fluidity of a Tekken character. His kicks will flare up at one angle before abruptly altering course and arcing around your defense to strike you in the neck. He flows from one uncanny movement into the next, as if floating. If MMA—a chaotic, gruesome, theatrical sport—is balletic violence, Adesanya is prima assoluta.

To reclaim his Middleweight belt, Adesanya will face champion Alex Pereira for a fourth time April 8, 2023 at UFC 287. Two times in kickboxing, Pereira has beaten Adesanya, including one knockout. And this past November at UFC 281, Pereira asserted his supremacy in MMA, too, by rallying for a fifth-round TKO win over Adesanya to claim the 185-pound title from his rival.

Pereira will make his first title defense in the rematch after defeating Adesanya to secure the crown in a fifth-round comeback in November. The most recent encounter marked the third time the combatants had faced one another, with Pereira having previously defeated Adesanya twice in professional kickboxing. After taking a year off from MMA, Jorge Masvidal will fight Gilbert Burns in the co-main event. Masvidal will be making his comeback to the Welterweight class.

In addition, White announced matches at UFC 287 between Rob Font and Adrian Yanez, Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez, and Welterweights Kevin Holland and Santiago Ponzinibbio.

PREDICTION 

Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have both proven themselves to be highly skilled and talented fighters in the UFC. However, it is difficult to determine who is the better fighter as both fighters have unique strengths and weaknesses.

Israel Adesanya has a professional record of 23-2-0 and is the current UFC middleweight champion. He is known for his exceptional striking skills and footwork, which he has honed through years of experience in kickboxing and boxing. Adesanya is also a highly intelligent fighter who is able to adapt his strategy to his opponents’ weaknesses. Alex Pereira has a professional record of 7-1-0 in the UFC and is a two-time Glory Kickboxing middleweight champion. He is also known for his striking abilities, with a record of 33-6 in kickboxing. Pereira has knockout power in both his hands and feet, which makes him a dangerous opponent for anyone. Ultimately, it is difficult to say who is going to win this fight. But one thing is for sure, it promises to be an interesting match up.