The iconic Madison Square Garden will play host to a huge UFC pay-per-view event, as the octagon returns to New York City on November 12.
UFC 281 features two title fights at the top of the card, with a third meeting between former kickboxing rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira set to headline the event. Pereira picked up two victories, including one devastating knockout, over Adesanya in their kickboxing days. Now Adesanya is the undisputed middleweight champion of the world, and the Brazilian is looking to dethrone “The Last Stylebender,” who plans to show his superiority in the all-encompassing combat sport of MMA.
The co-headliner sees a battle for the women’s strawweight title as the division’s inaugural champion, Carla Esparza, who recaptured the belt earlier this year, takes on former champion, Chinese dynamo Zhang Weili. There’s also a huge bout for the UFC lightweight division, as former interim champion Dustin Poirier takes on former three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler.
Ahead of the event, the UFC’s “Embedded” cameras are following the fighters behind the scenes as they work their way through fight week, as they arrive in New York City and go through their pre-fight media obligations before the weigh-ins and the final faceoffs ahead of fight night.
As described on the UFC’s official YouTube channel, on Episode 1, “Champ Israel Adesanya and his UFC 281 teammates get Jersey tough; foe Alex Pereira trains in the Tri-State area as well. Champ Carla Esparza preps to face a powerhouse, Zhang Weili, who simulates fight night in Las Vegas.”
Check out the full episode below.
