UFC 276, held on July 2, 2022, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, was a landmark event that captivated the mixed martial arts world. Headlining the UFC’s 10th annual International Fight Week, this pay-per-view spectacle delivered a night of high-stakes championship bouts, stunning knockouts, and memorable moments that continue to be discussed among fight fans. With an impressive attendance of 19,649 and a total gate of over $10.4 million, UFC 276 solidified its place as one of the most successful events in UFC history.
The Main Event: Israel Adesanya’s Measured Mastery
The highly anticipated main event featured UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya defending his title against Jared Cannonier. Adesanya, known for his elusive striking and tactical brilliance, entered the octagon with a calculated approach. Throughout the five-round contest, “The Last Stylebender” showcased his masterful control of distance and range, repeatedly thwarting Cannonier’s attempts to close the gap and land significant offense. While the fight didn’t produce the highlight-reel knockout many fans have come to expect from Adesanya, his performance was a clinic in defensive striking and point fighting. He consistently landed his jabs and leg kicks, maintaining a measured pace that ultimately secured him a unanimous decision victory (49-46, 49-46, 50-45).
The win marked Adesanya’s fifth successful title defense, further cementing his reign over the middleweight division. However, the fight did draw some boos from the crowd, reflecting a desire for more explosive action. Despite this, Adesanya’s performance underscored his ability to adapt and win convincingly, even against durable and powerful opponents like Cannonier. The outcome also set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch against a formidable foe who made a significant statement earlier in the night.
Co-Main Event: Volkanovski’s Undeniable Dominance in Trilogy Bout
In the co-main event, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski faced his career rival, Max Holloway, in a highly anticipated trilogy bout. Their previous two encounters were fiercely contested, with Volkanovski narrowly emerging victorious in both. This third meeting, however, left no room for doubt about the featherweight king’s supremacy. Volkanovski delivered a truly dominant performance, showcasing his refined striking, relentless pressure, and exceptional footwork. He picked apart Holloway from the opening bell, landing clean shots and consistently winning exchanges.
Volkanovski’s relentless pace and powerful leg kicks visibly hampered Holloway, who, despite his legendary durability and heart, struggled to find his rhythm and unleash his signature volume striking. The fight went the full five rounds, but the outcome was never in question, with all three judges scoring the bout a commanding 50-45 in favor of Volkanovski. This decisive victory solidified Volkanovski’s standing as arguably the greatest featherweight of all time, joining an exclusive club of fighters with an undefeated 12-0 start in the UFC. His performance at UFC 276 was a testament to his continuous evolution as a mixed martial artist and left fans eager to see what challenges he would pursue next, with whispers of a move to lightweight for a superfight gaining momentum.
The Rise of “Poatan”: Alex Pereira’s Statement Knockout
Perhaps the most impactful performance of the night, particularly in terms of future title implications, came from Alex Pereira, who faced Sean Strickland in a pivotal middleweight clash. Pereira, a former kickboxing rival of Israel Adesanya, entered the UFC with considerable hype due to his two victories over Adesanya in their kickboxing careers, including a brutal knockout. This fight was seen as a crucial test of his MMA credentials and his readiness for a shot at the UFC middleweight title.
Pereira delivered emphatically. He demonstrated his lethal striking prowess, overwhelming Sean Strickland with a left hook that dropped him, followed by a devastating right hand that rendered Strickland unconscious in the first round at 2:36. This stunning knockout sent shockwaves through the middleweight division and immediately positioned Pereira as the clear number one contender for Adesanya’s title. The narrative of a potential rematch between the two striking titans, this time in the octagon, became the dominant storyline after UFC 276.
Other Notable Bouts and Performances
Beyond the headline acts, UFC 276 featured a host of exciting matchups and memorable performances:
Bryan Barberena vs. Robbie Lawler: This welterweight slugfest earned “Fight of the Night” honors and lived up to the hype. Both fighters engaged in a back-and-forth war, with Barberena ultimately securing a TKO victory in the second round. Their willingness to stand and trade blows provided a thrilling spectacle for the fans.
Pedro Munhoz vs. Sean O’Malley: This highly anticipated bantamweight clash unfortunately ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke from O’Malley in the second round, which rendered Munhoz unable to continue. This inconclusive finish left both fighters and fans wanting a definitive resolution, and a rematch was widely discussed.
Jim Miller vs. Donald Cerrone: A veteran showdown that saw Jim Miller make his 40th walk to the Octagon, setting a new UFC record for most fights. Miller emerged victorious via a guillotine choke submission in the second round, marking a significant win and contributing to Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s emotional retirement from the sport in the octagon. It was a fitting, albeit bittersweet, end to a legendary career for Cerrone.
Jalin Turner’s Quick Finish: Lightweight Jalin Turner continued his impressive ascent, submitting Brad Riddell with a lightning-fast guillotine choke in just 45 seconds of the first round. This dominant performance showcased Turner’s potential as a future contender in the lightweight division.
Ian Garry and Dricus du Plessis’ Wins: Promising welterweight Ian Garry secured a unanimous decision victory over Gabriel Green, maintaining his undefeated record. In the middleweight division, Dricus du Plessis also earned a unanimous decision win against Brad Tavares in a competitive bout.
André Muniz’s Grappling Dominance: Middleweight contender André Muniz showcased his elite grappling skills with a unanimous decision win over Uriah Hall, further solidifying his position as a serious threat in the division.
Maycee Barber and Julija Stoliarenko’s Victories: Maycee Barber defeated Jessica Eye via unanimous decision in a women’s flyweight bout, while Julija Stoliarenko delivered a swift armbar submission victory over Jessica-Rose Clark in the women’s bantamweight division.
The Main Event: Israel Adesanya’s Measured Mastery and Fan Reaction
The highly anticipated main event featured UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya defending his title against Jared Cannonier. Adesanya, known for his elusive striking and tactical brilliance, entered the octagon with a calculated approach. Throughout the five-round contest, “The Last Stylebender” showcased his masterful control of distance and range, repeatedly thwarting Cannonier’s attempts to close the gap and land significant offense. While the fight didn’t produce the highlight-reel knockout many fans have come to expect from Adesanya, his performance was a clinic in defensive striking and point fighting. He consistently landed his jabs and leg kicks, maintaining a measured pace that ultimately secured him a unanimous decision victory with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45.
The win marked Adesanya’s fifth successful title defense, further cementing his reign over the middleweight division. However, the fight did draw some boos from the crowd, reflecting a desire for more explosive action from the champion. Adesanya’s methodical approach, while effective, sometimes leads to less action-packed fights, a point of contention for some viewers. Despite this, Adesanya’s performance underscored his ability to adapt and win convincingly, even against durable and powerful opponents like Cannonier. His strategic brilliance in neutralizing Cannonier’s power was evident, but the lack of definitive finishes in some of his recent title defenses has led to ongoing discussions among fans and pundits. The outcome also set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch against a formidable foe who made a significant statement earlier in the night, injecting a new layer of excitement into the middleweight division.
Co-Main Event: Volkanovski’s Undeniable Dominance in Trilogy Bout
In the co-main event, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski faced his career rival, Max Holloway, in a highly anticipated trilogy bout. Their previous two encounters were fiercely contested, with Volkanovski narrowly emerging victorious in both. This third meeting, however, left no room for doubt about the featherweight king’s supremacy. Volkanovski delivered a truly dominant performance, showcasing his refined striking, relentless pressure, and exceptional footwork. He picked apart Holloway from the opening bell, landing clean shots and consistently winning exchanges.
Volkanovski’s relentless pace and powerful leg kicks visibly hampered Holloway, who, despite his legendary durability and heart, struggled to find his rhythm and unleash his signature volume striking. Volkanovski opened up a nasty cut above Holloway’s left eye, further highlighting his control of the striking exchanges. The fight went the full five rounds, but the outcome was never in question, with all three judges scoring the bout a commanding 50-45 in favor of Volkanovski. This decisive victory solidified Volkanovski’s standing as arguably the greatest featherweight of all time, joining an exclusive club of fighters with an undefeated 12-0 start in the UFC. His performance at UFC 276 was a testament to his continuous evolution as a mixed martial artist and left fans eager to see what challenges he would pursue next, with whispers of a move to lightweight for a superfight gaining momentum. Volkanovski’s ability to consistently improve and adapt, even against a legend like Holloway, cemented his status as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite.
The Rise of “Poatan”: Alex Pereira’s Statement Knockout and Title Shot Implications
Perhaps the most impactful performance of the night, particularly in terms of future title implications, came from Alex Pereira, who faced Sean Strickland in a pivotal middleweight clash. Pereira, a former kickboxing rival of Israel Adesanya, entered the UFC with considerable hype due to his two victories over Adesanya in their kickboxing careers, including a brutal knockout. This fight was seen as a crucial test of his MMA credentials and his readiness for a shot at the UFC middleweight title.
Strickland, known for his aggressive, forward-moving style and willingness to stand and trade, surprisingly decided to engage Pereira in a striking battle. This decision proved to be his undoing. Pereira delivered emphatically, demonstrating his lethal striking prowess. He overwhelmed Sean Strickland with a powerful left hook that dropped him, followed by a devastating right hand that rendered Strickland unconscious in the first round at 2:36. This stunning knockout sent shockwaves through the middleweight division and immediately positioned Pereira as the clear number one contender for Adesanya’s title. The compelling narrative of a potential rematch between the two striking titans, this time in the octagon with a UFC title on the line, became the dominant storyline after UFC 276. This rapid ascent for Pereira, with only three UFC fights under his belt, underscored the unique circumstances of his kickboxing history with the champion, accelerating his path to a title shot.
FAQs
What was the significance of Alex Pereira’s fight at UFC 276?
Alex Pereira faced Sean Strickland in a pivotal middleweight bout. Pereira delivered a stunning first-round knockout (at 2:36) of Strickland with a left hook followed by a right hand. This victory solidified his position as the clear number one contender for Israel Adesanya’s middleweight title, setting up a highly anticipated rematch from their kickboxing days.
Did any fighters retire at UFC 276?
Yes, two prominent fighters announced their retirement at UFC 276. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone retired after his submission loss to Jim Miller, leaving his gloves and hat in the octagon. Jessica Eye also announced her retirement after her unanimous decision loss to Maycee Barber.
What was the “Fight of the Night” at UFC 276?
The “Fight of the Night” honors at UFC 276 went to the welterweight bout between Bryan Barberena and Robbie Lawler. Barberena won the exciting, back-and-forth contest via TKO in the second round.
What was the outcome of the Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz fight?
The bantamweight bout between Sean O’Malley and Pedro Munhoz ended in a no-contest in the second round due to an accidental eye poke from O’Malley that rendered Munhoz unable to continue.
Who holds the record for most UFC wins after UFC 276?
After his submission victory over Donald Cerrone at UFC 276, Jim Miller officially broke the record for most wins in UFC history with 24 victories.
Post-Fight Reactions and Future Implications
The post-fight press conferences for UFC 276 provided further insights into the fighters’ mindsets and future plans. Israel Adesanya, despite the crowd’s mixed reaction, remained confident in his performance and expressed a clear desire to face Alex Pereira next, acknowledging their history and the compelling narrative it creates. Alexander Volkanovski, riding high on his dominant win over Holloway, entertained the idea of moving up to lightweight, eyeing a potential superfight that would further cement his legacy.
UFC 276 was a pivotal event that reshaped the landscape of several divisions and generated immense excitement for upcoming matchups. It was a night that showcased both technical mastery and raw power, leaving an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts and setting the stage for future epic encounters. The discussions around Adesanya’s calculated approach, Volkanovski’s undisputed reign, and Pereira’s meteoric rise continue to fuel fan anticipation for what promises to be an thrilling era in the UFC.
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