UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2

Brazilian Alex Pereira and Nigeria-born Israel Adesanya are preparing for a mixed martial arts (MMA) showdown. They’ll face each other again for the UFC Middleweight championship in UFC 287 on April 8, setting the stage for a second thrilling spectacle.

Adesanya’s loss to Pereira at UFC 281 last November shocked fight fans as the latter took him down with a powerful left hook in the fifth round. That dethroned the former champion and secured Pereira’s maiden middleweight victory in MMA. Adesanya now looks forward to redeeming himself and recapturing the title he held for three years.

UFC 287 Betting Trends 

This bout won’t be easy in either corner, but the most likely outcome of this UFC 287 fight card, according to online sportsbooks, is an Adesanya win. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that he’s emerged victorious in eight out of nine fights that have lasted the full distance in his last 13 bouts. 

On the other hand, Pereira’s most promising road to victory, based on the odds of +220, is by scoring a KO/TKO. In fact, Pereira’s TKO victory over Adesanya marked the sixth knockout in his MMA career. In 40 kickboxing matches, before he entered the UFC, he secured 21 knockout victories.

While Adesanya gets the most support should the fight go the distance, there’s a slight chance it could end sooner. However, that would likely end with a Pereira victory, with oddsmakers giving him a long +1000 in the UFC 287 betting odds to take out his opponent in the first round. He’s done it before, but never against the man dubbed “The Last Stylebender.”

UFC 287 Betting Odds 

Pereira may be considered the leading middleweight fighter entering UFC 287, but Adesanya is indisputably viewed as the frontrunner. The Last Stylebender has average UFC 287 odds of -142 across the four premier sportsbooks, boasting a 58.7% likelihood of victory. 

Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that Pereira previously defeated Adesanya by knockout. That loss was the only one Adesanya picked up in his career. Going into that bout, he had won three fights in a row against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier.

Despite being the favorite, bettors can’t ignore Pereira’s run in the octagon. He’s now on a 7-0 streak and is 4-0 since he signed on with the UFC. Of those four wins, three were by KO.

Where to bet on UFC 287

Various reputable sportsbooks are available online that offer odds and betting options for UFC 287.

Each of these sportsbooks offers a variety of betting options, such as moneylines and methods of victory, ensuring that all fans can find something that suits their betting strategy. There are also regularly different prop bets available.

How Do You Read UFC Odds?

Different approaches to placing bets on UFC matches exist, ranging from predicting the outright champion, the duration of the fight, and even the type of victory (KO, points, etc.). Adjustments can be made to the betting lines between weigh-ins and the starting bell, so UFC 287 bettors have to stay on top of the action. 

Outright Champ

As with most sports, the UFC 287 betting odds for the moneyline represent who, according to the oddsmakers, has the better chance of winning. A negative number is the favorite, and a positive number is an underdog.

Duration of the Fight

Going or not going the distance is often a yes/no prop bet. Sportsbooks give bettors the opportunity to wager on whether the fight will last for all the scheduled rounds or if one of the fighters will claim victory sooner. For example, DraftKings doesn’t expect this UFC 287 main event to go the distance, giving the “no” odds of -150. 

Method of Victory

Both of these UFC fighters are as tough as they came, which is why the sportsbooks expect the outcome to be based on points. Ultimately, the most accepted method of victory is a decision for Adesanya, who’s getting +190 to Pereria’s +550. 

While predicting who will win this contest is difficult, sportsbooks agree entirely on one thing.: A draw is out of the question and is getting +5000 in UFC 287 betting.