UFC 281 pre-event facts: History at stake for multiple fighters on huge card.

By Tolulope Onifade. 

Edited by: Soliu Mohammed 

         (📸PHOTO:MMA JUNKIE)

The UFC returns to New York on Saturday for its annual event at Madison Square Garden with UFC 281, which has a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

A doubleheader of championship bouts is featured at the top of the card, with middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) set to take on former two-time kickboxing rival Alex Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in the headlining act.

The co-main event will see strawweight champion Carla Esparza (19-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) attempt to kick off her second reign in positive fashion when she meets former titleholder Zhang Weili (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC).

For more on the numbers behind both title bouts, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts for UFC 281.

ISRAEL ADESANYA

     (📸PHOTO:MMA JUNKIE)

Adesanya is one of 13 fighters in UFC history to win an undisputed title with an undefeated record.

Adesanya is one of 11 undisputed middleweight champions in UFC history.

Adesanya’s five consecutive UFC title defenses are second-most among current champions behind women’s flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko (seven).

Adesanya’s seven victories in UFC middleweight title fights are second-most in history behind Anderson Silva (11)

Adesanya’s 12-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is longest active streak in the division.

Adesanya’s 12 knockdowns landed in UFC middleweight competition are tied with Nate Marquardt for second-most in divisional history behind Silva (13).

Adesanya’s four knockdowns landed against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 are the single-fight record for a UFC title bout.

Adesanya’s seven fight-night bonuses for UFC middleweight bouts are tied for fourth-most in divisional history behind Silva (12), Yoel Romero (eight) and Robert Whittaker (eight).

ALEX PEREIRA 

            (📸PHOTO:MMA JUNKIE)

Pereira, a former GLORY kickboxing champion, owns two victories over Adesanya in kickboxing.

Pereira’s three-fight UFC winning streak at middleweight is the third-longest active streak in the division behind Adesanya (12) and Andre Muniz (five).

Pereira has earned five of his six career victories by stoppage.

Pereira has earned all five of his career stoppage victories by knockout.