Israel Adesanya can only envision one scenario that would result in him stepping into the ring with Alex Pereira once again.
Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) vanquished his longtime rival Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at UFC 287 by delivering a brutal knockout, reclaiming the middleweight championship from the Brazilian fighter. Prior to this victory, Pereira had defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing matches and once in the UFC octagon.
On July 29th, in Salt Lake City, Pereira will make his first appearance against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 rather than transitioning to the light heavyweight division. Certain members of the MMA community insisted on organizing an additional bout, marking their fifth encounter overall and third under the UFC banner.
Dana White, the president of UFC, said that if Pereira wins against Blachowicz, it would make “sense” for him to challenge for the 205-pound title. Adesanya said he would consider another showdown, and he thought seriously about moving up and capturing the belt, and then doing what he can.
Everyone else wants to see it, but I think differently. I’m done with it. If he wins the 205 belt, I’ll do it again, as Ariel Helwani told Adesanya during “The MMA Hour.”
“That will be our fifth. They’re having an epic, insane fight with 205 magic, and they might give him a fast track to the belt if he wins. It’s been hard, I’ve been there with 205, but I don’t think I have to think about it (no, it happens), I don’t think about it (no, it happens). If I were betting on it, I would bet money on it.”
“The Last Stylebender” has said that he would eventually return to the weight class for another attempt at a second belt. In March 2021, he lost a decision to then-champ Blachowicz at UFC 259 and it didn’t go well for him. Adesanya has already tried his luck at light heavyweight.
He stated, “and presently he is content with the past events between them. He has already achieved the victory he required against Pereira, but it is not a pursuit that Adesanya is actively engaged in. If Pereira ultimately succeeds in overcoming the challenges, it would be an ideal situation.”
He knocked me out when he fought me in Brazil. He’s a great fighter, and it’s a cool story. Honestly, he’s a cool guy. He’s a great fighter. We know this guy has a spirit that can beat me, and I’m like, “Wow.” He beat me and I beat him in MSG, for the third time. He beat me and I beat him in the second time. I won the fight, but the judges got it wrong the first time – every time I fought him, I proved that I can beat this guy. It’s not about that. If we fight 10 times, he beats me 10 times, and if we fight another 10 times, he beats me another 10 times.
I could never put this beat on myself to be sure, but he’s like the greatest guy ever. ‘Oh, I’m never going to let my story be written like this, like, this guy. But I know I can put some pressure on myself to go to a place that I went camping last, just so I can put myself under much pressure.
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