Set as the first big event of the second quarter of the year, UFC 287 has two epic showdowns at the top of its card. To get you primed for your UFC 287 betting, SBS will be going over the main event championship fight along with a great welterweight battle. In the top fight of the night, the UFC Middleweight Championship will be on the line as Alex Pereira defends his title in a rematch against former champion Israel Adesanya. The two previously fought at UFC 281 in a stellar battle that saw Pereira win via knockout in the fifth round. In the other big bout of the night, Jorge Masvidal squares off against Gilbert Burns as the former tries to shake off a three-fight losing streak and return to the main event scene.
In this article, SBS will review what to look for from each fighter, a predicted winner in each bout, and more notes about your UFC 287 betting experience.
| UFC 287 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Pereira (c) vs. Israel Adesanya | Adesanya | -137 | -137 | -137 |
| Gilber Burns vs. Jorge Masvidal | Burns | -500 | -500 | -500 |
Fighter Spotlight: Alex Pereira
A sensational kickboxer, he was previously ranked as the No.1 in the world in his weight class (middleweight), Pereira is the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion. Following a loss in his MMA debut back in 2015, the champion has strung together seven consecutive wins to give him an overall record of 7-1. In his last bout against Adesanya, the then-challenger was able to knock off the imposing champion with a stellar TKO victory, earning him Performance of the Night honors. A fantastic knockout fighter, the Brazilian has won six of his fights via TKO or KO.
Fighter Spotlight: Israel Adesanya
While he is coming off a loss to Pereira last fall, Adesanya is still held in high regard as one of the strikers in all of MMA. Moreover, the 33-year-old Last Stylebender is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC. With five defenses of the UFC middleweight Championship at one point, the New Zealand fighter had certainly earned his place as one of the best in the division. Adesanya also has the second-longest winning streak in UFC Middleweight division history at 12 fights.
Prediction: This bout is set up as another classic and one would be hard-pressed to bet against Adesanya losing twice. Take The Last Stylebender to rebound here.
Fighter Spotlight: Gilbert Burns
Burns is coming off an electric submission win over Neil Magny at UFC 283 and is angling for another shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship if he can get past Masvidal. In his last bout, the 36-year-old was able to lock down his ninth win via submission and his 21st overall victory in his MMA career. A fighter that has achieved the Performance of the Night four times in his career, Burns is part of the famed Brazilian jiu-jitsu lineage in MMA. With victories over the likes of Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, and Stephen Thompson, Burns has shown he can hang with the top of the weight class.
Fighter Spotlight: Jorge Masvidal
One of the most colorful characters in the UFC, Masvidal is trying to shake a three-fight losing streak and get back to his “BMF” title ways. A fighter with a very impressive 35 wins in his MMA career, the 38-year-old has been known for his knockouts, winning 16 fights via this route, including the 2019 knockout of the year over Ben Askren. In the past, Masvidal has been crowned as the symbolic “BMF” champion but has come up short in fights for the UFC Welterweight Championship against Kamaru Usman. With a career record of 35-16, he is one of the most-tenured MMA fighters in history.
Prediction: With Burns winning over two fighters that Masvidal has lost to (Thompson and Maia), it would appear that the Brazilian fighter has the edge here in addition to his current momentum.
Once you are all squared away with your UFC 287 picks homework, SBS has your back with many other great resources to make the most of your experience. For instance, if you are in need of more UFC betting markets, the SBS UFC betting sites guide has your back with a page dedicated to the latest odds from the sport along with more info about your UFC 287 bets. Moreover, for getting the best UFC 287 bets possible, one should always check out our best bonus betting sites rundown which covers a catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers. Finally, with UFC being a global sport, you should also familiarize yourself with the SBS best betting apps rundown which covers, in detail, mobile betting and how you can use it to your advantage.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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