UFC 281 – Adesanya vs Pereira LIVE RESULTS: Adesanya KNOCKED OUT by Pereira as Poirier submits BLOODY Chandler

UFC tragedy

Former UFC fighter Anthony Johnson has died after a long battle with illness.

The 38-year-old was known as one of the best knockout artists during his fighting days and earned some big wins against high-level opponents inside and outside the octagon.

At his prime, 'Rumble' managed knockout victories against former light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira and Alexander Gustafsson.

Tributes have poured in for Johnson, with American MMA fighter Michael Chiesa tweeting: "RIP Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. One of the most prolific KO artists our sport has ever seen.

"My prayers go out to his family and everyone affected by this tragedy."

Daniel Cormier, a former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight fighter, said: "Rest Easy my brother. For a guy who struck fear in so many peoples heart Anthony Johnson was a caring person.

"From random text to check ins during loss.

"What a person he was, Rumble will be missed. Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. Horrible news."

Chimaev wants Pereira fight

Khamzat Chimaev called out Alex Pereira, after the Brazilian sensationally knocked out Israel Adesanya.

And he's certainly confident he could give him a beating in the Octagon.

He wrote on Twitter straight after Pereira's win: "Let me fight with this guy, 1 road finish him."

Adesanya reflective

Israel Adesanya was reflective in his press conference after his shock loss by knockout in the final moments.

"Whats the emotion? I’m grateful. What a life, what a moment,” Adesanya said.

“F—ing crazy ending. Similar to the last time, same story. It’s crazy. But yeah, I was fine.

"The first thing I said to Eugene [Bareman, his coach] or the ref was I was fine. I was lucid, I was in there. But yeah, s— happens. I talked to my coaches and I trust them [that the stoppage was legit], but I was fine. I could see everything, my eyes might have rolled back a little bit but I was lucid.”

He added: “I’m grateful, I’m proud, my team’s proud of me,” he added. “Respectfully, f— all this s—, f— everybody else, it’s all about my team.”

Jones to fight next year

UFC president Dana White confirmed Jon Jones will return next year in his post UFC 281 interview.

But reports he will fight Stipe Miocic appear wide from the mark.

White revealed: “Jon Jones will fight next year, for sure. We never had a Stipe-Jon Jones fight.

“He’s gonna fight next year.”

Adesanya breaks silence

Israel Adesanya has broken his silence after his shock UFC defeat to Pereira.

He took to Twitter to share some photos of their scrap and wrote: "LOVE THIS GAME!!! Attacking Titans like this one thrills me!! Another chapter to “Poatan”.

He continued: "You won the battle yet again, but the war wages on! The hunter now becomes the hunted, the game’s not over."

Scorecards revealed

The scorecards have finally been revealed for Israel Adesanya’s shock UFC defeat to Alex Pereira.

Middleweight champ Adesanya saw his dominant reign come to an end at New York’s Madison Square Garden last night.

The ace was KO’d in the fifth round by his Brazilian opponent.

But the scorecards show Adesanya was on course to successfully defend his belt for the sixth time.

The Mirror claims all three judges at cage-side had identically scored the bout.

And Adesanya was the easy victor in each round thanks to his mix of wrestling and striking.

'What a story'

There's hot reactions to the fight on social media.

Shaheen Al-Shatti of MMAfighting.com tweeted: "Seriously what a story.

"Alex [Pereira] is the one who sent Izzy [Israel Adesanya] out of kickboxing. He transitioned fully to MMA after that KO, became a star, a bonafide all-timer, the second-most decorated MW in UFC history.

"All for it to end in the same damn way. Forever chased by his boogeyman. Unreal."

UFC 281 results

Main card

Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira - Pereira def. Adesanya via TKO (punches) - Round 5, 2:01

Carla Esparza vs Zhang Weili - Zhang def. Esparza via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 2, 1:05

Dustin Poirier vs Michael Chandler - Poirier def. Chandler via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 3, 2:00

Frankie Edgar vs Chris Gutierrez - Gutierrez def. Edgar via KO (knee) - Round 1, 2:01

Dan Hooker vs Claudio Puelles - Hooker def. Puelles via TKO (body kick) - Round 2, 4:06

UFC 281 results

Preliminary card

Brad Riddell vs Renato Moicano - Moicano def. Riddell via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 1, 3:20

Dominick Reyes vs Ryan Spann - Spann def. Reyes via KO (punches) - Round 1, 1:20

Molly McCann vs Erin Blanchfield - Blanchfield def. McCann via submission (kimura) - Round 1, 3:37

Andre Petroski vs Wellington Turman - Petroski def Turman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Matt Frevola vs Ottman Azaitar - Frevola def. Azaitar via KO (punch) - Round 1, 2:30

Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs Silvana Gomez Juarez - 29-28, 29-28, 29-28

Michael Trizano vs Choi Seung-woo - Trizano def. Choi via KO (punches) - Round 1, 4:59

Pereira's hard work pays off

An elated Pereira said: “I feel so blessed. I worked so hard for this.

"Sorry to everybody that I had to post some stuff, I had to do a little bit of trash talk this time.

"But I had to get in his head to get this fight.”

He added: "It was a very hard but just like Glover said, I was going through a fight every day at the gym.

“For everybody that said I couldn’t do five rounds, look at what I did just now. I’m ready for the next.”

Madness at Madison Square Garden

Isreal Adesanya's reign as UFC middleweight champion came to a brutal end at Madison Square Garden.

The Last Stylebender was knocked out in the fifth round of a UFC 281 thriller at The World's Most Famous Arena.

The Nigerian-born New Zealander was up three rounds to one going into the closing minutes of the fifth and final stanza.

But a hellacious left hook from Pereira rocked the former champion and put him into survival mode.

Adesanya tried to utilise head movement to stave off the ensuing storm.

But he ate several unanswered strikes that prompted referee Marc Goddard to wave off the contest.

Durinho reacts

Gilbert Durinho has reacted to Alex Pereira's KO win over Israel Adesanya.

He tweeted: "Congrats to the new champion @AlexPereiraUFC and so much respect to the former champ @stylebender crazy sport!

"Respect to the ones who make the walk, show up and put on a show for the fans! #ufc281."

Israel Adesanya speaks

Israel Adesanya has seemingly contested the stoppage in his clash with Alex Pereira, insisting he "was fine."

Pereira speaks

An elated Poatan said: “I feel so blessed. I worked so hard for this.

"Sorry to everybody that I had to post some stuff, I had to do a little bit of trash talk this time.

";But I had to get in his head to get this fight.”

The finish

Here's the moment Alex Pereira finished Israel Adesanya

And new!

Alex Pereira has just knocked out Israel Adesanya to become new UFC middleweight champion.

Holy smokes!

Adesanya vs Pereira – Round Five

Pereira comes out aggressive after the restart and is stalking the champion.

A good right hand lands for the Brazilian.

Adesanya falls backwards after checking a kick. Pereira comes forward but is unable to capitalise.

Pereirra lands two big shots and hurts Adesanya.

Adesanya is badly hurt and on wobbly likes. It's over!

Adesanya vs Pereira – Round Four

Pereira lands a stiff jab off a leg kick from the champion.

A big left hook grazes the chin of Adesanya.

A clean right hand lands for Adesanya shortly after another stiff jab.

He doubles up with the combo seconds later.

Fatigue has well and truly taken it's toll on Pereira, whose output has drastically decreased.

Adesanya fakes level changes twice before initiating a clinch. A big right hand lands for Adesanya after a separation.

Pereira narrowly misses a huge hook after eating a jab.

They clinch again but Adesanya is struggling to take down the fatigued Brazilian

Pereira lands a right hand seconds before the horn goes.

Adesanya vs Pereira – Round Three

Adesanya opens up the round with a stiff jab and quicky goes back to operating on the outside.

A stiff one-two down the pipe snaps back the head of Pereira.

Takedown for Adesanya after catching a hard body kick.

Pereira tries to get back to his feet but is dragged back to the canvas and eating punches.

Adesanya is doing a good job of remaining heavy and keeping the Brazilian on the canvas.

Pereira fails to capitalise on a leg lock opportunity following a mistake from Adesanya.

Good ground and pound from the champion. Axe kick to the body sets up more ground and pound for Adesanya before the horn goes.

Adesanya vs Pereira – Round Two

Pereira rallies the crowd before the restart. Adesanya is being wise to stay on the outside and pick his shots.

A good check left hook lands for the champ.

Adesanya moves out the way of a spinning wheel kick. Another check hook lands for Adesanya.

Adesanya is doing a good job of staying outside and avoiding Pereira's left hook.

Stiff jab lands for the challenger. They clinch against the cage and Adesanya lands a nice shot in tight.

Adesanya drops down for a single leg but it's stuffed by Pereira.

A good right hand lands for Adesanya after the separation. Adesanya gets tagged by a couple good left hands against the fence.

Pereira lands a knee to the body of the champion against the cage.

A head kick partially lands for Pereira. A late takedown from Pereira before the horn.

Adesanya vs Pereira - Round One

No touch of gloves.

Pereira comes out with a jumping switch kick but is wide of the mark.

Adesanya is throwing his trademark feints from the outside and looking to get reads on the big Brazilian.

They trade leg kicks early doors.

Pereira lands two good leg kicks and narrowly misses with a left high kick.

Question mark kick almost lands for Adesanya. A good stiff right hand sends Pereira back.

Adesanya is drawing big reactions with his feints after that right hand.

Adesanya gets out the way of a big left hook from Pereira. Another high kick narrowly misses for the champion.

A high kick from Pereira partially lands. Adesanya lands a hard body kick from the southpaw stance.

Pereira lands a left hook but Adesanya takes it on the chin. A flying knee almost lands for the challenger.

They clinch and Pereira lands hard shots inside the tangle.

Adesanya hurts Pereira badly with a right hand left hook combo before the horn.

Main event time

Here we go, folks. The moment is almost upon us.

Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira are moments away from renewing their kickboxing inside the octagon.

Will Adesanya exact revenge on the former two-division Glory champion?

Or will Pereira end the dominant reign of The Last Stylebender. We'll soon find out.

And new!

Weili Zhang has regain the UFC women's strawweight title with a second-round submission victory over Carla Esparza.

What a moment for the pride of China.

Esparza vs Zhang - Round Two

Zhang stings Espaza early door with a good right hand.

But she bizarrely returns to the canvas after stuffing at takedown,

However, as I say that, she gets her into a mounted crucifix.

Zhang is looking for a choke. It's over!

Esparza vs Zhang - Round One

Zhang, unsurprisingly, is the aggressor and putting the champion on the back foot.

A good straight left lands for the former titleholder after a minute and a half of the action.

Zhang lands a head kick but Esparza gets her leg and takes her down.

But Zhang takes Esparza's back. Scramble after scramble ensues.

Esparza eventually rolls into full guard and now using her top pressure to keep the challenger down.

But she allows her back to her feet - where she's the most dangerous.

Esparza gets the fight back to the ground and almost gets a submission before the end of the round.