Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2, Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal confirmed for UFC 287

PPV promo announcement by Dana White features confirmation of Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2, Gilbert Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal.

While an announcement by UFC President Dana White ultimately proved to just be a promo for upcoming pay-per-view cards, we did get some new, noteworthy information about plans for UFC 287 on April 8.

Per the UFC announcement broadcast, the main event for that card will see the middleweight championship rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya.

The co-main event, meanwhile, will feature the return of Jorge Masvidal as he takes on Gilbert Burns.

No location for UFC 287 has been confirmed, though it is rumored to take place somewhere in New York. Rumors have circulated that the Barclays Center in Brooklyn will be the location (which would fit considering the UFC’s history of NYC events outside the November Madison Square Garden cards). Ariel Helwani has reported, however, that MSG has been discussed as well.

UFC 287 to feature middleweight title rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, return of Jorge Masvidal vs. Gilbert Burns

MSG played host to the first MMA fight between Pereira and Adesanya. The two are heated rivals stretching back to kickboxing, where Pereira defeated Adesanya twice — one fight of which included Adesanya leaving the ring on a stretcher knocked out cold.

At UFC 281 in November, Adesanya appeared to be on his way to a unanimous decision entering the fifth round. Pereira, however, caught Adesanya and forced a referee’s stoppage, giving Pereira the UFC middleweight title. Pereira, consequently, became the first to finish Adesanya in MMA.

Burns, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the UFC’s welterweight rankings, just competed at UFC 283 last weekend, scoring a quick, first-round submission of Neil Magny.

Masvidal has not been seen in action since losing a unanimous decision to Colby Covington in the main event of UFC 272 in March 2022. Masvidal has lost three straight, which also includes two unsuccessful attempts at capturing the welterweight title against then-champ Kamaru Usman.

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