Israel Adesanya Favored to Defeat His Kryptonite in UFC 287

• Alex Pereira vs Israel Adesanya is the main event for UFC 287, featuring a rematch for the middleweight title currently held by Pereira.
• Alex Pereira is the underdog with +110 odds despite his flawless fighting record against Adesanya.

MIAMI – Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya will face off in the main event rematch for the middleweight title at UFC 287. This match will be the fourth matchup between the two fighters, with Pereira (+110) boasting an undefeated record against Adesanya.

Pereira’s success against Adesanya dates back to their kickboxing days. Alex Pereira defeated him in kickboxing matches in 2016 and 2017.

Adesanya’s loss in 2017 was his final kickboxing match before he fully transitioned to MMA and joined the UFC world. Pereira didn’t join the UFC until 2021, but made his presence felt as soon as he entered the scene.

The rivalry continued with their first UFC matchup at UFC 281 in November, with Pereira winning by TKO in the fifth round. Adesanya was leading on the scorecard with under three minutes to go, but Pereira caught him in a great combo that allowed him to send a barrage of fists, forcing the referee to call the fight.

With Adesanya’s -130 odds on online sportsbooks, oddsmakers believe he will finally defeat his kryptonite, Alex Pereira. Despite their identical attributes on paper, Pereira is incredibly strong and seemed to overpower Adesanya in their last bout.

Both fighters are 185 pounds, 6’4” tall with 80” wingspans. Adesanya is recognized for his skinnier build, while Pereira is notably muscular with a more physical build.

The striking power of Alex Pereira gave him the edge in their fight last year. Even though Adesanya is a likely hall-of-famer, Alex Pereira has had his number throughout their professional fighting careers.

Pereira has good value at +110 on UFC betting sites to continue his success against Israel Adesanya.