Madison Square Garden, New York, plays host to UFC 281 on Saturday, November 12, 2022. Israel Adesanya, the reigning UFC Middleweight champion, defends his belt against long-time rival Alex Pereira in the main event. Other fights include some of the UFCs most exciting stars, such as Zhang Weili and Dustin Poirier.
Traveling abroad on the day of UFC 281? There’s a chance you may be unable to view the fight using your regular streaming service due to their use of geo-blocking. Luckily, a VPN can help you circumvent geo-blocks and watch the fight worldwide. Here’s how:
- Sign up for a premium VPN provider like Surfshark.
- Download and install the VPN app on the device you want to watch UFC 281 on.
- Log in to the app using the credentials you created while signing up.
- Connect to a server in your home country or the country where you have a UFC streaming subscription. For ESPN+, connect to a U.S. server.
- Locate the UFC 281 event card on your streaming service, like ESPN+.
- Enjoy the action!
Check out the rest of the article for answers to all your questions about streaming UFC 281, some free streaming options, and what to expect from the event!
Israel Adesanya, the UFC Middleweight champion, defends his title for the sixth time against long-time rival Alex Pereira at UFC 281. The UFC PPV event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York.
Pereira actually holds two victories over Adesanya from their kickboxing days and is confident he can make it three victories and claim the UFC title. But obviously, MMA is a different sport than kickboxing, and Adesanya is looking to prove that he’s still the No. 2 pound-for-pound UFC fighter.
Carla Esparza will defend her strawweight title for the first time against former champ Zhang Weili. Michael Chandler and Dustin Poirier will also settle their beef in a highly anticipated grudge match.
The main card for UFC 281 will start at 10 PM (ET).
However, UFC fans traveling abroad may miss out on Adesanya vs. Pereira due to geo-restrictions on live streams. Luckily, a virtual private network (VPN) lets you watch the fight from anywhere in the world. Let’s learn how.
How to Live Stream UFC 281 Adesanya vs. Periera Worldwide
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through servers in different countries. It also changes your IP address to appear as if you’re physically located in the country to which the address belongs.
This feature of a VPN is useful as it helps circumvent geo-blocking restrictions placed on content by streaming companies. As part of their streaming licenses, these companies must ensure their streams are limited to licensed regions only. Resultantly, users with an American UFC subscription will be unable to watch UFC 281 if they travel outside the country.
However, with a VPN, you can trick the streaming website into believing you’re still located in your home country and access content globally. We’ve broken down the process of streaming UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereria worldwide using a VPN below.
Stream UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira worldwide: A step-by-step guide
- Subscribe to a premium VPN provider. We recommend Surfshark as it boasts blazing-fast speeds and an expansive server network, all at an affordable price.
- Download the VPN app on your streaming device from the provider’s website. Premium VPNs like Sursfhark support all major operating systems, including iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android.
- Install the VPN app by following the on-screen instructions provided by the installation wizard.
- Log in to the VPN app using the credentials you created while purchasing a subscription in Step 1.
- Connect to a server in the country where you purchased your UFC subscription. For example, if you bought a UFC Fight Pass or ESPN+ subscription in the U.S., then connect to one of Surfshark’s 600+ servers in different U.S. cities.
- Head over to your streaming website, usually UFC Fight Pass, ESPN+, or BT Sport Box Office, for marquee events like UFC 281.
- Sit back and enjoy what promises to be a night of exciting but technical fights.
Where is UFC 281 being streamed?
The UFC is an increasingly global sport. Resultantly, it is broadcast in several nations worldwide. Unsure about which website or broadcast is carrying UFC 281 in your region? Check out the table below:
| Country | Provider | PPV? |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Combate | No |
| Canada | TSN | No |
| Indonesia | Mola.tv | No |
| India | SonyLIV | No |
| Poland | Polsat Sport | No |
| Australia | Foxtel Main Event | Yes |
| United Kingdom | BT Sport Box Office | Yes |
| United States | ESPN+ | Yes |
Can I watch UFC 281 at a discount or for free?
Some of these streaming websites don’t charge a PPV fee and are, hence, much cheaper than ones that do. For instance, watching UFC 281 will cost less than a few dollars in India, while it’ll set you back close to $100 in the US. However, these websites increasingly require a local number or payment mechanism, which makes it impossible to get a cheap subscription using a VPN.
The UFC is also cracking down on the practice of using a VPN to pick up cheap Fight Pass subscriptions in countries like Japan. Currently, it seems like there’s no legal way for viewers in the US and UK to avoid the PPV fee by using a VPN. Similarly, there are no legitimate ways to stream UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira for free.
Of course, you can check out some unofficial sports streaming websites, but the video quality on these websites is usually not the best, and domains or streams hosted by third parties can be unsecured.
Streaming UFC 281 with a Free VPN
You may be tempted to skip the subscription fee for a premium VPN provider and use a free one instead. There are a few reasons why this may not be a great idea:
- Low speeds: As all UFC fans know, fights can change completely in a matter of seconds. This makes high internet speeds that reduce buffering time and lag vital. However, using a free VPN will likely result in pretty slow speeds, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- Limited bandwidth: UFC main events can last between two and five hours. Unfortunately, free VPNs place daily/monthly data caps that limit your streaming time to less than one hour.
- Small server network: The number of servers you can choose from on free VPNs is pretty limited. This limits the options you have when it comes to exploring different sports streaming websites and services.
If you’re not an existing Surfshark subscriber, you can use its services for free for 30 days. That’s right! You can use its generous 30-day money-back guarantee to try it out for free and watch UFC 281 without spending on a premium VPN. Just remember to cancel your subscription within 30 days of the purchase date.
UFC 281: Preview
The UFC 281 main event between marks the resumption of a rivalry that captivated kickboxing fans for years. Both Adesanya and Pereira are elite kickboxers who have transitioned to MMA. Izzy, “The Last Stylebender,” has been virtually flawless since becoming a mixed-martial artist and is undefeated at middleweight in the UFC, beating some of his main competitors multiple times.
However, Pereira is probably his toughest test yet. Alex is a physically imposing Brazilian with a lethal left hook. Many also believe that he has the mental edge on Izzy, having knocked him out twice in kickboxing. However, the bookmakers feel that Izzy’s experience in MMA will help him neutralize Alex, making him a slight -165 favorite.
In the co-main event, UFC veteran Carla Esparza will defend her title for the first time against the rampaging Zhang Weili. Esparza defeated former champ Rose Namujanas using her exceptional grappling skills to claim the belt earlier this year. Zhang, who lost the belt to Rose, looked better than ever in her win over perennial contender Joanna Jedrzeczyk.
Two of the best lightweights in the world, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler, are also scheduled to fight on the main card. The two have been exchanging words on Twitter, and we expect to see a high-paced affair when they meet at UFC 281. The rest of the fight card is as follows:
| Fighters | Bout | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| (C) Israel Adesanya vs. (4) Alex Pereira | Middlewieght Championship | -165/+140 |
| (C) Carla Esparza vs. (2) Zhang Weili | Women’s Strawweight Championship | +300/-400 |
| (1) Dustin Poirier vs. (5) Michael Chandler | Lightweight Bout | -175/+150 |
| (12) Frankie Edgar vs. (-) Chris Gutierrez | Bantamweight Bout | +175/-205 |
| (12) Dan Hooker vs. (6) Claudio Puelles | Lightweight Bout | -155/+135 |
