UFC 287 Pereira Vs. Adesanya 2: Undercard Results, Highlights: Masvidal Retires Following Unanimous Decision Loss To Burns
UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 fight day, live from the Kaseya Center in Miami, is here!
The action will get started with three early preliminary matches on UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT. The early prelims will be headlined by Trey Ogden and Ignacio Bahamondes, who will square off at 160-pounds.
Following, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, the preliminary card will get started on ESPN+ and will consist of four bouts. Capping the preliminary card off will be fan favorite Kelvin Gastelum facing Chris Curtis, a rising star in the 185-pound division.
Finally, the five fight PPV main card will get started at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, and is purchasable through ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. In the co-main event, high level BJJ black belt Gilbert Burns will square off with Miami’s own backyard striker Jorge Masvidal.
Of course, the evening will conclude with the rematch between middleweight champion Alex Pereira and former titleholder Israel Adesanya.
Follow the Live Results, Recaps, and Highlights below, provided by FIGHT SPORTS
Live Results: Main Undercard 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV
Co-Main Event: Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal – Welterweight
In the co-main event of the evening, these 170-pounders went to war for the full three rounds.
In the first, the pair participated in some very calculated striking with Burns was finding a home for his right hand, while Masvidal was having early success with his low kicks. The round concluded with Burns securing a takedown, landing in side control, and delivering a few solid strikes from the dominant position.
In round two, Burns secured takedowns on two separate occasions and was able to control Masvidal for the majority of the round.
Two rounds in the books!
We’re headed to R3! #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/Fo1ghZ70wt
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
During the final round, the two engaged in an exciting striking match for the first two minutes, in which both men had moments of success, but Burns definitely got the better of the exchanges by landing massive punches. With one minute to go in the round, Burns secured his final takedown of the match and worked for a late fight submission.
While he was not able to execute the submission, Burns would go on to secure the unanimous decision.
Following the fight, as anticipated, Masvidal decided to make this the final fight in his 52-fight career. He retired with a record of 35-17, and will be remembered for many exciting fights, including the fastest knockout in UFC history, which he achieved versus Ben Askren.
After a storied career in the fight game, @GamebredFighter is calling it a career
THANK YOU JORGE 🙌 #UFC289 pic.twitter.com/XrpDQiTEpl
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Through this bout, Burns has put himself back in the conversation for welterweight title contention, and has improved his record to 22-5.
Gilbert gets the W!!@GilbertDurinho takes the unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal in our #UFC287 co-main pic.twitter.com/hd0oG6GMwE
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Official Result: Gilbert Burns def. Jorge Masvidal via Decision (Unanimous) – 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez – Bantamweight
In tonight’s 135-pound featured bout, Rob Font may have come in the underdog, but he left victorious and did not seem surprised.
Font did an excellent job at utilizing his crisp jab to set up hard punches, which staggered Yanez on multiple occasions in this short fight.
As the pair approached the three-minute mark in their fast-paced affair, Font landed an absolute bomb of a right hook that rocked Yanez and dropped him to the canvas. From there, it only took a few shots to his grounded opponent before the referee stepped in and stopped the action.
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Official Result: Rob Font def. Adrian Yanez via TKO (Right Hook And Ground Strikes) – Round 1, 2:57
Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio – Welterweight
In this back and forth competitive striking match between these two 170-pounders, Holland was landing some nice shots and finding several moments of success through the first two rounds, but Ponzinibbio was firing back and inflicting heavy damage with kicks to the legs of his opponent.
Despite the back and forth in the first two rounds, the third is where Holland really secured things. Following defending a low kick from Ponzinibbio, Holland stepped forward with a lunging left hook that dropped his opponent immediately, and ultimately ended the fight.
During his post fight interview, Holland (now 24-9) went on to call out Jorge Masvidal in respectful fashion, stating he loves everything “Gamebred” is doing, and wants to fight him next.
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Kevin Holland def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via KO (Left Hook) – Round 3, 3:16
Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez – Bantamweight
Kicking off the PPV portion of the event, this 135-pound matchup marked the second UFC appearance for the 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr, and despite a dominant first round he ran into some real trouble versus Christian Rodriguez.
Rosas Jr. found early success with his takedowns and ground control, but in the second and third round Rodriguez’s takedown defense, flowing grappling reversals, scrambles, and ground strikes were a cut above.
Through this bout, Rosas Jr. suffered the first lost in his 8-fight professional career, while Rodriguez improved to 9-1.
Christian Rodriguez gets it done! 👊@ceerod97 hands Raul Rosas Jr. his first career loss at #UFC287! pic.twitter.com/cmV9CkbirH
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Official Result: Christian Rodriguez def. Raul Rosas Jr. via Decision (Unanimous) – 29-28, 29-28, 29-28
Live Results: Preliminary Card 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Kelvin Gastelum def. Chris Curtis via Decision (Unanimous) – 29-28, 29-28, 30-27
What a fight so far!!
Curtis and Gastelum closing the prelims in style 🔥 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/U44i4vUT3W
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Luana Pinheiro def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez via Decision (Split) – 28-29, 29-28, 29-28
Joseph Pyfer def. Gerald Meerschaert via TKO (Punches) – Round 1, 3:15
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Lupita Godinez def. Cynthia Calvillo via Decision (Split) – 28-29, 29-28, 30-27
Live Results: Early Prelims 6 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Trey Ogden via Decision (Unanimous) – 30-27, 30-27, 29-28
Steve Garcia def. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke via Knockout (Uppercut To Body) – Round 2. 0:36
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Sam Hughes def. Jaqueline Amorim via Decision (Unanimous) – 29-28,-29-28,-29-28
Sam Hughes REFUSES to tap!! 😳 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/l30pyoYsrq
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2023