Could Izzy and ‘Poatan’ team up for training in the near future? They will if Pereira gets his way.
Despite being TKO’d just last week in Saudi Arabia, Israel Adesanya was out and about at UFC 312, having all sorts of adventures.
A new video from Adesanya’s YouTube channel shows the former middleweight champ absolving referee Mark Goddard of any guilt for the stoppage in his fight against Nassourdine Imavov. He hangs out backstage with Alexander Volkanovski, and he chops it up with some fans in the arena. And then his former rival Alex Pereira sits down next to him to watch the fights.
After some pleasantries, the two get into strategy talk, including the best way to land leg kicks. At the end of the event, Pereira asked Adesanya to train together sometime soon.
“He says ‘Let’s get together, let’s make the partnership happen,’” Pereira’s translator Plinio Cruz relayed. “He has a lot to show you and you have a lot to show him. Good to see you, and please come!”
That wasn’t the only heartwarming interaction Adesanya got. There was a Hall of Fame announcement for his fight against Kelvin Gastelum. And kater that day, he ran into Dricus Du Plessis.
“I’m really happy to hear you say you’re fighting again, keep going,” Du Plessis said. “I don’t know if you heard me say this, but I told the media you have Anderson Silva status. You don’t have to worry about anything else.”
Dricus du Plessis linked up with Israel Adesanya
@stylebender #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/VC2DnYR0Al
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 10, 2025
It’s great seeing Izzy get so much love and appreciation, but you better believe no one was being this buddy buddy when he was at the top of the mountain knocking back everyone attempting to take his place. This newfound chumminess comes from a place of feeling less threatened by the aging “Stylebender.” It’s easy giving him his due now because he’s not about to come and take everything you worked for.
After four years at the top of the middleweight division, Adesanya has now lost three in a row and is going to have to win a few to get back into title contention. After his last loss — a second round TKO at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov — there are real questions as to whether he can string those wins together at the highest level.
He’s gonna try, through, and we hope for the best. Adesanya has already given us so many amazing moments, and we feel selfish hoping for a few more. But yeah, we want a few more.