UFC 287: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya odds, picks and predictions
In a middleweight championship bout in the main event, Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya meet at UFC 287 at Kaseya Center in Miami. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The early prelims are on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, while the prelims can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. The main card begins at 10 p.m. on Pay-Per-View.
Pereira takes the walk looking to protect the middleweight strap that he earned by posting a 5th-round KO/TKO at UFC 281 against Adesanya in November. He has won 3 of his 4 matchups since arriving at the UFC level, including 3 via knockout.
Pereira has a 5.23-to-3.93 significant strikes landed per minute advantage and has posted a 67.49% significant strikes accuracy percentage in his 4 bouts in the UFC.
Adesanya has dropped 2 of his past 5 fights after starting his professional career an impressive 20-0. When Pereira dropped him at Madison Square Garden last time out, it was the first time “The Last Stylebender” has been knocked out. The stoppage snapped a 4-bout streak of unanimous-decision finishes.
We’ve never seen Adesanya lose consecutive fights at any point during his professional career. However, Pereira used a combination of punishing calf kicks and tremendous punching power to turn the tide in the first matchup.
Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.
UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:13 a.m. ET.
UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya picks and predictions
Records: Pereira (7-1-0) | Adesanya (23-2-0)
The middleweight division is in good hands with Pereira and Adesanya at the top of the charts.
ADESANYA (-135) is the play on the 2-way line in Miami, as he looks to regain his strap. A win here likely sets up a trilogy fight.
Look for Stylebender to defend against the calf kicks much better, as he tries to keep Pereira at more of a distance. Adesanya will go back to basics, looking to keep his opponent at arm’s length, while wowing the judges with his technique.
Looking to METHOD OF VICTORY: ADESANYA BY DECISION/TECHNICAL DECISION (+175) is a solid play for a chance to nearly double up.
If you don’t want to declare a winner, playing HOW WILL THE FIGHT FINISH?DECISION (+110) is also a value play.
There isn’t a lot of value in playing Over 2.5 Rounds (-225), as it will cost you more than 2 times your potential return.
