UFC title

Adesanya opened the fight looking to square up Pereira but the Brazilian took advantage of the passivity with some early and relatively easy-to-land leg kicks.

As the Miami crowd chanted "let's go Izzy", Pereira pressed that advantage in the second round with more kicks to Adesanya's leg, eventually making the Kiwi buckle and fall back towards the cage.

Pereira took that as his moment to go for the finish however as he pressed the attack, Adesanya countered with a perfectly placed right hook, before a second right hand and a hammer fist finished the job.

All three judges scored it 48-47 to Whittaker, who suffered a foot injury in the first round.

Whittaker dominated the last three rounds of the fight, pinning the Cuban to the floor in the final minute.

"I sustained an injury earlier in the camp and I thought it would be 100 percent by now," Whittaker said.

"A guy like Yoel Romero, he sees a weakness he'll capitalise on it every time he can.

"I'm surprised he didn't kick it more. It definitely impacted on my game.

"I was trying to establish a solid jab and it's hard when your leading leg is bummed."