Israel Adesanya recently shed light on the potency of Alex Pereira’s unconventional leg kicks.
If there’s anyone who truly understands the intricacies of Pereira’s fighting style, it’s “The Stylebender”. These two have shared the stage in one of combat sports’ most legendary rivalries. Having faced off four times—twice in kickboxing and twice in the UFC—Pereira holds the upper hand with a 3-1 lead over Adesanya.
Adesanya is only all too familiar with the devastating impact of Pereira’s strikes, particularly his infamous leg kicks, which have earned widespread acclaim for their potency.
Even MMA icons like Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan have praised the brutal effectiveness of Pereira’s leg kicks, recognizing just how destructive they can be.
Adesanya understands better than most that Pereira’s crushing power isn’t confined to his fists alone. Though his nickname “Poatan” means “Stone Hands,” the Brazilian’s leg kicks are equally as destructive.
Adesanya Admits ‘It’s A Different Feeling’ When Pereira’s Leg Kicks Connect
During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, “The Last Stylebender” reflected on his UFC clashes with Pereira. Adesanya specifically revisited their encounter at UFC 281, where he lost his middleweight crown to “Poatan.” He noted that he was in control for the first two rounds, but once Pereira unleashed his brutal leg kicks, the momentum shifted.
The former two-time 185-pound champion elaborated on the mechanics behind Pereira’s striking, highlighting how he executes such devastating blows. Adesanya likened the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion’s forefoot to a hammer.
“That f**king leg kick, bro,” Adesanya said. “You know what it is. If you look at this bit of his foot [forefoot], it’s like a hammer, like the back of a hammer because that’s what he kicks you with, so he doesn’t have to turn the hip over. And when he hits you with that, even because of his bone density and long legs, when he hits you with that, you just feel it like, ‘Oo, that’s bad.’”
“It’s a different feeling because I’ve been kicked by kickboxers all my life on the thigh and on the calf as well, but when he hits you with that bit, it’s just the surface so small, it travels and transfers through your whole calf, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I can’t put weight on this.’”
“Poatan” is set to defend his championship against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, taking place this weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pereira enters this matchup on a high, following his stunning second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 this past June.
There's no one like Poatan
@AlexPereiraUFC looks for his THIRD title defense in 2024!
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