6:57 p.m. ET
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Brett Okamoto
CloseESPN Staff Writer
- MMA columnist for ESPN.com
- “MMA Live” Analyst
- MMA covered for the Las Vegas Sun
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Mark Raimondi
LAS VEGAS — Israel Adesanya looked into the proverbial crystal ball Thursday at the UFC 276 press conference. Behind him on the podium were Sean Strickland and Alex Pereira, a pair of middleweights on this weekend’s undercard.
The winner of that fight will likely be next in line for Adesanya’s middleweight title shot — and “The Last Stylebender” spent more time talking back and forth with Strickland and Pereira than his actual next opponent.
Before Adesanya can open the door to his next challenge, he must successfully defend his UFC middleweight title on Saturday night against Jared Cannonier in the UFC 276 headliner at T-Mobile Arena. And the tenacious Cannonier is not one to pass up, even if Adesanya is a -490 favorite, according to Caesars.
Adesanya is one of the best fighters in the world. ESPN ranked him No. 3 in the world on its pound-for-pound list. At middleweight, Adesanya is ranked No. 1 and Cannonier is No. 3.
Israel Adesanya defends his middleweight title against Jared Cannonier and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski takes on Max Holloway in a trilogy fight.
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UFC 276: Adesanya vs. CannonierSaturday, July 2, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas• Base Map: 10pm ET on ESPN+ PPV• Preliminary matches: 8:00 PM on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+• Early Preliminaries: 6 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN+
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Adesanya (22-1) is undefeated at 185 pounds, a perfect 11-0 in the UFC at that weight class. The Nigerian-born, New Zealand native is coming off a unanimous decision win over challenger Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 in February. Adesanya, 32, has made four successful middleweight title defenses since unifying the belt with Whittaker in 2019. His only professional MMA loss came by moving up in weight for the UFC light heavyweight title against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 in March 2021
Cannonier (15-5) has won two straight and five of his last six. The Arizona native is coming off a second-round knockout of Derek Brunson at UFC 271. The 38-year-old Cannonier has finished fights in three different weight classes: heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight. His only loss at middleweight came against Whittaker in 2020.
In the main event of UFC 276, Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against former champion Max Holloway in a trilogy fight. Volkanovsky and Holloway are among the best featherweight fighters in UFC history. ESPN has Volkanovski ranked No. 4 in the pound-for-pound world rankings, and Holloway is No. 6 on that list.
Volkanovski (24-1) has won 11 consecutive UFC fights and 21 in a row overall. The Australian has three successful title defenses since winning the belt from Holloway in 2019. The 33-year-old Volkanovsky has beaten Holloway twice, most recently by split decision at UFC 251 in July 2020.
Holloway (23-6) has won two straight against Volkanovski. Holloway, 30, held a version of the UFC featherweight title from 2016 to 2018 with three successful title defenses.
Also on the card, Strickland and Pereira will meet in what will likely be a middleweight title eliminator. Strickland is one of the most prolific bullies in the division, while Pereira is 2-0 against Adesanya in kickboxing, including a knockout victory. In addition, former UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler takes on Bryan Barberena and top bantamweight prospect Sean O’Malley takes on veteran Pedro Munhoz in O’Malley’s toughest test to date.
Follow along as Brett Okamoto and Mark Raimondi recap the action in Las Vegas or watch the fights live on ESPN+ PPV.
Fight in Progress: Middleweight: Brad Tavares (19-7, 14-6 UFC, +130) vs. Dricus du Plessis (16-2, 2-0 UFC, -155)
UFC 276 results
Middleweight: Andre Muniz (23-4, 5-0 UFC) def. Uriah Hall (18-11, 10-9 UFC) by unanimous decision (Watch on ESPN+)
Andre Muniz extended his winning streak to seven straight with a unanimous decision over Uriah Hall at UFC 276. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Brazil’s Muniz picked up his first win of 2022 – and fifth in a row in the UFC – with a one-sided decision over Hall. The submission ace was unable to secure a finish despite regularly working in a dominant position, but earned a unanimous decision 30-27.
Hall, who fell to 0-2 in his last two outings, couldn’t keep the fight off the ground as Muniz took him down in the first half of each round. Even when Hall was right, he looked timid and wary of Muniz’s fight.
Muniz has good momentum in the Octagon, with wins over the likes of Hall, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza and Eryk Anders. He also has three first-round submissions in the UFC.
Women’s Flyweight: Maycee Barber (11-2, 6-2 UFC) def. Jessica Ai (15-11 1 NC, 5-10 1 NC UFC) via unanimous decision (Watch on ESPN+)
Maycee Barber plans to challenge for the women’s flyweight title after a unanimous decision win over Jessica Eye at UFC 276. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Maycee Barber is once again a factor in the UFC women’s flyweight division.
The former top prospect has lost some luster from this blue-chip label in recent years, but now she’s back on track after a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) over former title challenger Eye .
Barber said afterward that this is the final fight of her UFC contract and she’s looking forward to sitting down with UFC president Dana White and chief business officer Hunter Campbell to discuss a new deal — and a future title fight.
Eye took off his gloves after the bout and announced his retirement in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
“I think it’s time,” said the Eye. “I’ve been pro since 2009. I’ve had a lot of fights in the UFC.”
Barber was able to keep the aggressive Eye at bay for all three rounds. Eye’s strategy was clear – initiate a clinch and try to get Barber to the ground. Barber was able to push her away with elbows and fists in the clinch, as well as knees and high kicks late in the fight. Eye was able to take Barber down in the second round and spent most of that frame in top position, though he didn’t do much damage. Barber landed a big elbow in the first round that caused a large hematoma above Ai’s right eye.
Barber, 24, has won three straight after a two-game losing streak. The Colorado native appears to have found a suitable home at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California after making the rounds at various camps. Ai, a 35-year-old Ohio native, has lost four in a row and five in a row.
Women’s Bantamweight: Julija Stoliarenko (10-7-2, 1-3 UFC) def. Jessica-Rose Clark (11-8, 4-4 UFC) via submission (Watch on ESPN+)
Julija Stoliarenko’s submission victory over Jessica-Rose Clark was the second fastest in women’s bantamweight history. Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Stoliarenko, of Lithuania, earned his first win in four attempts in the Octagon by making quick work of Clark via armbar in the first round. The finish came just 42 seconds into the fight. Stoliarenko is known for a wicked armbar and she wasted no time finding it against Clarke as she took her down immediately. Clark knocked quickly, but not fast enough. The shoulder was landed so aggressively that Clarke’s left elbow appeared dislocated before referee Chris Tognoni could intervene.
This is Stolyarenko’s first win since March 2020. Clark is 4-4 overall in the UFC.
Still to come:
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Middleweight Championship: Israel Adesanya (c) (22-1, 11-1 UFC, -490) vs. Jared Cannonier (15-5, 8-5 UFC, +370)
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Men’s Featherweight Championship: Alexander Volkanovsky (c) (24-1, 11-0 UFC, -210) vs. Max Holloway (23-6, 19-6 UFC, +175)
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Middleweight: Shawn Strickland (25-3, 12-3 UFC, -120) vs. Alex Pereira (5-1, 2-0 UFC, +100)
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Welterweight: Robbie Lawler (29-15, 14-9 UFC, -120) vs. Bryan Barberena (17-8, 8-6 UFC, +100)
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Bantamweight Men: Pedro Munhoz (19-7 1 NC, 9-7 1 NC UFC, +250) vs. Sean O’Malley (15-1, 7-1 UFC, -310)
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Lightweight: Brad Riddell (10-2, 4-1 UFC, +125) vs. Jalin Turner (12-5, 5-2 UFC, -150)
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Welterweight: Jim Miller (34-16, 23-16 UFC, -190) vs. Donald Cerrone (36-16 2 NC, 23-13 1 NC UFC, +160)
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Welterweight: Ian Garry (9-0, 2-0 UFC, -175) vs. Gabe Green (11-3, 2-1 UFC, +150)
(c) = defending champion
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