The middleweight title will be at stake in the rescheduled main event for UFC 287 on April 8 between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya.
The rematch was revealed by UFC president Dana White on Friday.
The UFC 287 event also includes a special welterweight attraction as Gilbert Burns welcomes Jorge Masvidal back to action after more than a year away from the sport in addition to Pereira vs. Adesanya 2.
Alex Pereira x Israel Adesanya and Gilbert Burns x Jorge Masvidal will co-headline the April 8 PPV, per Dana White.
No location announced. MSG has been discussed but nothing 100% yet.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 27, 2023
After a stunning fifth-round comeback to defeat Adesanya in their first fight this past November, Pereira will defend his belt in the main event. Pereira had already defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing, including a brutal knockout in their second match that paved the way for their UFC encounter.
As “The Last Stylebender” seeks retribution against the only person to have ever handed him a loss at middleweight in the UFC, Pereira now hopes to continue his undefeated streak against Adesanya.
Burns and Masvidal, two welterweights who have both called for a fight over the past year, will now have the opportunity to square off.
The main event of UFC 287 will feature a matchup between welterweights Kevin Holland and Santiago Ponzinibbio in addition to the previously announced bouts between Raul Rosas Jr. and Christian Rodriguez and Rob Font and Adrian Yanez.