UFC 281 is set to be the most anticipated card of the year. With a meteoric middleweight clash headlining the event, here are our top three reasons to love UFC 281.
1) Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira
This fight is a huge middleweight clash, with both men having previously fought outside the octagon. It was here where Alex Pereira handed Israel Adesanya two losses. In 2016 Adesanya fell short via unanimous decision, and in 2017 he was knocked out by Pereira in kickboxing. When Israel made a move over the mma, he dominated the middleweight division and continues to do so. After capturing the middleweight title, he has been clearing out the division with huge wins against the likes of Robert Whittaker, Kelvin Gastelum, and Paulo Costa. However, many fans have been vocal about his last few fights, stating that they have not been challenging the champ. Until now…
Alex Pereira made his UFC debut in November 2021, gaining a TKO victory over Andreas Michailidis. He continued his winning streak by gaining a decision victory over Bruno Silva and then moved on to fight Sean Strickland. This fight was highly anticipated as it took place on the same card as a title defence for Adesanya. Pereira knocked out Strickland in spectacular fashion in the first round, sending a stern message to the champ. Ever since then, we have seen comedic back and forth on social media between the two competitors leading up to their inevitable clash.
The reason why this fight is so compelling is that for the first time in a long time, Adesanya is under a real threat. His only losses are at the hands of Alex Pereira. That was kickboxing. This is mma. Does the outcome remain the same in favour of Pereira? Or will we see the record set straight with Adesanya proving why he’s the champ?
2) Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler
This is a matchup fans have been clamouring for ever since Michael Chandler debuted in the UFC. Those who have followed his Bellator career know that he has never been in a boring fight! Chandler brings the heat every time, showcasing his explosive power and wrestling skills. His UFC debut kicked off in impressive fashion with a KO over lightweight veteran Dan Hooker. With dominant wins following this, it brought us to his last fight with UFC legend Tony Ferguson, where Chandler ended the fight in the second round with a spectacular front kick KO. Chandler has remained red hot in his UFC run so far, proving that he will leave it all in the octagon and give fans a show.
Dustin Poirier is on a hot streak of his own. Poirier is a lightweight mainstay and has well and truly earned his stripes in the UFC. From brutal wars with Dan Hooker and Justin Gaethje, to impressive knockouts of the likes of Connor McGregor. Poirier has displayed his elite boxing skills, endurance, and durability in his recent fights. Recently coming off another victory over McGregor, Dustin looks to carry on his winning streak and climb back into title contention.
What makes this particular matchup so interesting is not only the stylistic clash but the recent tension between the two fighters. At UFC 276, Gilbert Burns captured a video of Poirier pointing fingers, shouting, and attempting to push Chandler. Dustin shouted, “I’m going to f**k you up. You’re a fake”. This dislike seems to have stemmed from a tweet from Chandler stating he would “never quit” in a fight, referencing Poirier’s loss to Charles Olivera. Since then, the two have been attempting to clear the air during interviews, but both acknowledge an underlying tension. With both fighters eager to prove themselves, this makes for a very entertaining fight come November 13th!
3) Carla Esparza vs Weili Zhang
In the co-main event of UFC 281, we have Carla Esparza defending the strawweight strap against Weili Zhang. This matchup will likely shake up the strawweight division once again. Many fans are predicting a dominant win for Weili Zhang as she continues to showcase her striking, power, and her speed in recent fights. This is an exciting thought going into the fight, as fans were not impressed by Esparza’s last performance against Rose Namajunas.
A win for Weili Zhang allows her to capture the title for a second time. After this, we could see a potential trilogy fight between her and former champ Rose Namajunas, as she will be itching for another title shot. With stakes this high, it makes for a very interesting bout!
That’s all from us. What do you think of UFC 281, and what are your top three reasons to love the event?
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
