NEW YORK – MMA Underground was on scene and reporting live from Saturday’s UFC 281 event, and you can get full results below.
“UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira” took place at Madison Square Garden. The night’s main card streamed live on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.
In the main event, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) put his title on the line against an old foe in Alex Pereira (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC). Meanwhile, the co-main event saw reigning UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza (19-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) unseated by former champ Zhang Weili (23-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who is now a two-time titleholder.
To discuss the show, be sure to check out the MMA Underground forums. You can also get other event notes from on-site reporter John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) on Twitter.
UFC 281 results include:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+ pay-per-view)
- Alex Pereira def. Israel Adesanya via TKO (punches) – Round 5, 2:01 – to claim middleweight title
- Zhang Weili def. Carla Esparza via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:05 – to claim strawweight title
- Dustin Poirier def. Michael Chandler via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:00
- Chris Gutierrez def. Frankie Edgar via knockout (knee) – Round 1, 2:01
- Dan Hooker def. Claudio Puelles via TKO (body kick) – Round 2, 4:06
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews, ESPN+)
- Renato Moicano def. Brad Riddell via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:20
MOICANO GETS THE SUB IN ROUND ONE 😤 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/6lmwbzRMaA
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 13, 2022
- Ryan Spann def. Dominick Reyes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:20
SUPERMAN SPANN PUT HIM TO SLEEP 😴 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/Zi7gCOE2us
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 13, 2022
- Erin Blanchfield def. Molly McCann via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 3:37
TOTAL DOMINATION FROM BLANCHFIELD OVER MCCANN 😳 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/ahlWQ4zQNI
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 13, 2022
- Andre Petroski def. Wellington Turman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+)
- Matt Frevola def. Ottman Azaitar via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:30
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Silvana Gomez Juarez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Michael Trizano def. SeungWoo Choi via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:51
TRIZANO WITH THE LEFT 😳 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/ScP0wdBTtA
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 13, 2022
- Montel Jackson def. Julio Arce via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Carlos Ulberg def. Nicolae Negumereanu via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:44
THAT'S HOW YOU START A FIGHT CARD 💥 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/pHQ3jfDyPW
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 12, 2022
