![UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira [Image courtesy: UFC.com]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/11/d48ff-16677144541914-1920.jpg)
![UFC 281: Adesanya vs Pereira [Image courtesy: UFC.com]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAII/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAM1wKf/EABwQAAMAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwAEBRESUf/aAAgBAQABPwCfJnR0b6EYyJr7XYpRFct88kjtcjxt6SR1sAGUEDs5/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQIBAT8Ap//EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACIf/aAAgBAwEBPwBaf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The UFC is headed to Madison Square Garden in New York City for its next pay-per-view card, UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira. The event is set to go down next Saturday, November 12, with two title fights on tap and features a series of intriguing matchups.
Headlining the card is a highly anticipated middleweight title showdown between defending champion Israel Adesanya and his former kickboxing foe, Alex Pereira. Taking the co-headlining spot at UFC 281 will be a women's strawweight championship bout between reigning 115-pound queen Carla Esparza and former titleholder Weili Zhang.
Check out the pre-fight press conference and weigh-ins schedule for the UFC 281 event below:
Press conference
The pre-fight press conference for UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira will take place on Thursday, November 10, and can be watched live on the promotion's official website, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch accounts.
Official and ceremonial weigh-ins
The official and ceremonial weigh-ins for the UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira event will take place on Friday, November 11, and can be followed live on the aforementioned platforms.
NOTE: The dates are estimated based on the usual schedule for UFC events and are subject to change as they are yet to be officially confirmed.
Check out the full card and betting odds for UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira below.
UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira main card
Check out the full card and betting odds for UFC 281 below:
(Middleweight title) Israel Adesanya -170 [favorite] vs. Alex Pereira +145
(Strawweight title) Carla Esparza +280 vs. Zhang Weili -340 [favorite]
(Lightweight) Dustin Poirier -175 [favorite] vs. Michael Chandler +150
(Bantamweight) Frankie Edgar +180 vs. Chris Gutierrez -210 [favorite]
(Lightweight) Dan Hooker -170 [favorite] vs. Claudio Puelles +145
UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira preliminary card
(Lightweight) Brad Riddell +105 vs. Renato Moicano -125 [favorite]
(Light heavyweight) Dominick Reyes -215 [favorite] vs. Ryan Spann +185
(Women's Flyweight) Erin Blanchfield -390 [favorite] vs. Molly McCann +320
(Middleweight) Andre Petroski -205 [favorite] vs. Wellington Turman +175
UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira early preliminary card
(Welterweight) Matt Frevola -125 [favorite] vs. Ottman Azaitar +105
(Women's strawweight) Karolina Kowalkiewicz -115 [favorite] vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez -105
(Featherweight) Michael Trizano +135 vs. Choi Seung-Woo -155 [favorite]
(Bantamweight) Julio Arce +175 vs. Montel Jackson -205 [favorite]
(Light heavyweight) Carlos Ulberg -125 [favorite] vs. Nicolae Negumereanu +105
Main card predictions for UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira
Dan Hooker vs. Claudio Puelles
Dan Hooker is coming off a first-round knockout loss to the highly-touted Arnold Allen at featherweight in March earlier this year. 'The Hangman' will move back up to 155lbs and look to get back into the win column against another promising prospect in Claudio Puelles.
Meanwhile, 'The Prince of Peru' will be determined to take down his first big name in the division after going 5-0 in his last five bouts.
The Peruvian has finished three of those last five fights via kneebar submission, which could pose some problems to his opponent. However, Hooker is expected to have the edge on the feet.
Verdict: Dan Hooker
Frankie Edgar vs. Chris Gutierrez
Frankie Edgar is set to make his 30th appearance in the promotion at UFC 281 on Saturday, which is expected to be his final walk to the cage. The UFC veteran has gone 1-4 in his last five bouts, suffering back-to-back knockout losses in his last two bouts.
Chris Gutierrez has been on a roll lately, going unbeaten in his last seven bouts. In his latest octagon outing, 'El Guapo' dispatched Batgerel Danaa with a brutal TKO. The 31-year-old Texan is expected to continue his strong form and pull off another victory on Saturday.
Verdict: Chris Gutierrez
Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler
Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler are two of the most exciting fighters to watch in the lightweight division.
After three consecutive wins, 'The Diamond' suffered a submission loss to Charles Oliveira in their title fight in December. Chandler, meanwhile, rebounded from back-to-back losses with a knockout of Tony Ferguson last time out in May.
This fight is expected to play out primarily on the feet. Chandler, who is known for a pressure-heavy style, likes to stalk his opponents while looking for those power shots. Meanwhile, Poirier's striking arsenal is more diverse and his excellent boxing combinations could prove to be a major factor.
It's a tough fight to call, but we'll go with 'The Diamond' on this one.
Verdict: Dustin Poirier
Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili
Carla Esparza is set to make her first title defense on Saturday on the back of a six-fight win streak. The champion looks to be in better form than her opponent. However, three of her six wins were by split decision and one by majority decision.
Former titleholder Zhang Weili bounced back from her loss to Rose Namajunas with an impressive knockout win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in June.
The Chinese sensation has made tremendous improvements in terms of takedown defense and her takedown offense has looked impressive as well. Weili is also expected to have an advantage when it comes to striking and is precise in her attacks.
Verdict: Zhang Weili
Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira
Israel Adesanya maintained his place atop the middleweight mountain with a unanimous decision victory over Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 in July. The 185-pound champion now looks set to solidify his place as arguably the best middleweight of all time when he takes on his arch-nemesis from his days in Glory Kickboxing.
His opponent Alex Pereira has compiled 21 knockout victories during his illustrious kickboxing career and holds five finishes on his 6-1 MMA resume. In his most recent UFC appearance, 'Poatan' scored an impressive first-round knockout against top middleweight contender Sean Strickland in July.
Not to mention, Pereira holds a pair of victories over the reigning middleweight king in the kickboxing world. 'Poatan' is also the only fighter to ever knock out Adesanya in any combat sport. However, the Brazilian is relatively new to MMA and doesn't have the experience of other top contenders in the division.
While the Brazilian makes up for it with his high-level kickboxing skills - a huge factor behind Adesanya's success in the MMA world - the champion will likely find a way to victory.
Verdict: Israel Adesanya
