Alex Pereira Claims He Made Israel Adesanya Cry Following Knockout

UFC middleweight Alex Pereira says he made champion Israel Adesanya cry after knocking him out during their time competing in Glory Kickboxing.

Pereira is coming off an impressive UFC debut at UFC 268, as he finished Andreas Michailidis with a flyi…

Israel Adesanya

UFC middleweight Alex Pereira says he made champion Israel Adesanya cry after knocking him out during their time competing in Glory Kickboxing.

Pereira is coming off an impressive UFC debut at UFC 268, as he finished Andreas Michailidis with a flying knee and punches in Round 2. Pereira, a former multi-division kickboxing world champion, signed with the UFC last year in a full-time transition to MMA.

To go along with his incredible combat accolades, he’s also the only man ever to finish Adesanya in any sport. He defeated Adesanya via unanimous decision in 2016 before knocking him out in the rematch in 2017 at Glory of Heroes 7.

During an interview with PVT’s Marcelo Alonso, Pereira revealed how he shook Adesanya’s confidence following the finish.

“I don’t know if with his friends, right, with the people close to him, he’s that arrogant guy, that annoying guy, because every time I met the guy, it was all that arrogance, that ego, he was always like that,” Pereira said. “Since our first fight in China, he was a guy who pissed me off a lot, from the weigh-in to the fight. Even losing, when there was the rematch here in Brazil he made a post that I don’t really remember, but it was something like ‘I’ll have to beat Pereira in his backyard and then run out of the favela’. It was something like that, right?

“I only saw him at the weigh-in and the fight. After the fight I saw him crying outside in Ibirapuera. Sitting on a low wall with his trainer – that’s it.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

Pereira and Adesanya could be on a collision course once again in the UFC. Adesanya will face former champion Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271, but the door remains open in the middleweight title picture.

Adesanya has also previously said that he expects to meet Pereira once again, this time in the Octagon.

If Pereira can continue his winning ways, he could earn the opportunity to defeat Adesanya for the third time. But this time, Adesanya will have more tools at his disposal in MMA.

Do you think we’ll see Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya in the UFC?

Continue Reading Alex Pereira Claims He Made Israel Adesanya Cry Following Knockout at MMA News.

Alex Pereira Reminisces About The Time He Made Israel Adesanya Cry

Alex PereiraAlex Pereira has been reminiscing about the time he knocked out Israel Adesanya and made him cry. Pereira twice beat Adesanya under the Glory kickboxing banner. ‘Po Atan’ first picked up a win over ‘Stylebender’ by decision in 2016. A year later the pair rematched and this time Pereira’s win was much more decisive as […]

Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira has been reminiscing about the time he knocked out Israel Adesanya and made him cry.

Pereira twice beat Adesanya under the Glory kickboxing banner. ‘Po Atan’ first picked up a win over ‘Stylebender’ by decision in 2016. A year later the pair rematched and this time Pereira’s win was much more decisive as he knocked Adesanya out cold.

During a recent interview, Pereira revealed that Adesanya was “arrogant” and the only time the UFC middleweight champion dropped his bravado was in the immediate aftermath of their second fight.

“I don’t know if with his friends, right, with the people close to him, he’s that arrogant guy, that annoying guy, because every time I met the guy, it was all that arrogance, that ego, he was always like that,” Pereira told Marcelo Alonso.

“Since our first fight in China, he was a guy who pissed me off a lot, from the weigh-in to the fight. Even losing, when there was the rematch here in Brazil he made a post that I don’t really remember, but it was something like ‘I’ll have to beat Pereira in his backyard and then run out of the favela’. It was something like that, right?

“I only saw him at the weigh-in and the fight,” Pereira added. “After the fight I saw him crying outside in Ibirapuera. Sitting on a low wall with his trainer – that’s it.” (Transcribed by Sportskeeda)

Alex Pereira & Israel Adesanya Could Complete Their Trilogy In The UFC

Since then, Adesanya has gone on to become one of the biggest stars in MMA. The New Zealander is the current 185lb king and has lost just once during his 22-fight MMA career.

Pereira joined the UFC in 2021 and is hoping to be fast-tracked to a title shot after scoring a flying knee KO win his promotional debut.

The 34-year-old is expected to face Bruno Silva on March 12.

Do you think we’ll ever see Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 3?

Krzysztof Jotko Alleges Alex Pereira Ducked Him Due To Grappling

UFC middleweight Krzysztof Jotko is still awaiting an opponent for his Octagon return, but he recently accused Alex Pereira of turning him down.

According to Jotko, an offer was made for him to fight Pereira on the upcoming UFC 271 card in February…

Krzysztof Jotko, Alex Pereira

UFC middleweight Krzysztof Jotko is still awaiting an opponent for his Octagon return, but he recently accused Alex Pereira of turning him down.

According to Jotko, an offer was made for him to fight Pereira on the upcoming UFC 271 card in February. However, he alleges that Pereira turned down the fight immediately.

Jotko most recently defeated Misha Cirkunov via split decision at UFC Vegas 38. Before that, he had won three in a row leading up to a disappointing loss to rising contender Sean Strickland.

Pereira, arguably the biggest signing by the UFC in 2021, put on a show in his UFC debut. The elite striker overwhelmed Andreas Michailidis en route to a TKO finish at UFC 268.

Pereira recently agreed to fight with Bruno Silva after the alleged offer to fight Jotko. After the fight was announced, Jotko ripped Pereira on his Twitter page.

“Look at this clown,” Jotko said. “I agreed to fight you on February 12! And, you out here running scared fighting someone else cause you can’t wrestle. Why you scared?”

Pereira is widely regarded as one of the best kickboxers in the world, having won multiple titles in Glory Kickboxing before coming to the UFC. He has been criticized by many, including Jotko, for his relative inexperience with grappling.

After getting word of Jotko’s comments, Pereira didn’t respond kindly, via a recent Instagram post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CX-DqPtMK1g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“I had never heard of that guy, but my manager mentioned him to me and we came to the conclusion that he was a totally unremarkable and uninteresting opponent,” Pereira said. “I want an opponent who can put on a show like me, not a girlfriend, I’m already a married man.”

Pereira is the only fighter to ever finish the current UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya in any sport. He and Jotko are both vying for a spot in the UFC middleweight rankings.

While it appears that these two won’t fight next, their recent back-and-forth on social media could create the push for a clash down the line.

Who would you like to see Krzysztof Jotko fight next?

Continue Reading Krzysztof Jotko Alleges Alex Pereira Ducked Him Due To Grappling at MMA News.

Alex Pereira To Make UFC Return Against Bruno Silva On March 12

A potential barnburner between UFC middleweights Alex Pereira and Bruno Silva is in the works for an upcoming March 12 Fight Night event.

MMA Junkie was among the first to report news of the booking.

Pereira, a former Glory kickboxing world cham…

Alex Pereira, Bruno Silva

A potential barnburner between UFC middleweights Alex Pereira and Bruno Silva is in the works for an upcoming March 12 Fight Night event.

MMA Junkie was among the first to report news of the booking.

Pereira, a former Glory kickboxing world champion who signed with the UFC this year, is coming off of his promotional debut win over Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268. He landed a vicious flying knee followed up by a barrage of punches to secure the second-round finish.

Pereira will face a step up in competition against Silva, who has been on a tear with seven-straight wins in M-1 and the UFC. He has won all seven bouts by knockout, including most recently against Jordan Wright at UFC 269.

The two sides have verbally agreed to the bout ahead of an anticipated formal announcement by the promotion.

Alex Pereira Looks To Continue His Rise In MMA

Pereira is well known for being the only man to ever knock out Israel Adesanya in either kickboxing or MMA. During his time in Glory, he earned the light heavyweight and middleweight world titles before making the move to the UFC and MMA.

Along with his kickboxing accolades, Pereira had put on impressive performances in smaller MMA promotions such as Legacy and Jungle Fight. He registered quick knockouts over the likes of Marcelo Cruz and Thomas Powell.

The card will be headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between top contenders Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev. The venue and location have yet to be determined for the event.

What are your thoughts on this UFC middleweight matchup?

Continue Reading Alex Pereira To Make UFC Return Against Bruno Silva On March 12 at MMA News.

REPORT | Alex Pereira Returns, Meets Bruno Silva At UFC Event On March 12.

Alex PereiraAn all-Brazilian middleweight showdown between kickboxing ace, Alex Pereira, and the surging knockout artist, Bruno Silva has been added to a UFC Fight Night event on March 12. – with a location or venue for the event yet to be disclosed by the promotion. Pereira, a former GLORY Kickboxing middleweight and light heavyweight champion, made […]

Alex Pereira

An all-Brazilian middleweight showdown between kickboxing ace, Alex Pereira, and the surging knockout artist, Bruno Silva has been added to a UFC Fight Night event on March 12. – with a location or venue for the event yet to be disclosed by the promotion.

Pereira, a former GLORY Kickboxing middleweight and light heavyweight champion, made his long-awaited UFC bow back in November at Madison Square Garden – stopping Andreas Michailidis with a stunning, highlight-reel second round flying-knee knockout win.

3-0 in his first three Octagon walks, Silva, a former M-1 Global middleweight champion, scored an impressive first round knockout win over Jordan Wright at UFC 269 earlier this month. The win came as Silva’s seventh straight. News of the all-Brazilian clash was first reported by Combate reporter, Raphael Marinho, and Marcelo Barone

An all-Brazilian clash between Alex Pereira and Bruno Silva has been added to a March 12. event

Improving to 4-1 as a professional with his New York knockout win over Michailidis, Sao Paulo striking phenom, Pereira boasts a notable kickboxing record as well, which has seen him scoop a pair of titles under the GLORY Kickboxing banner.

The Brazilian also notably holds a pair of victories over current undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya during the pair’s respective kickboxing careers. Pereira is also the first and last to stop Adesanya with strikes in combat sports, following a rallying 2017 knockout. 

Paraiba finisher, Silva began his tenure under the UFC’s scrutiny back in June of last year – stopping another compatriot, Wellington Turman with a first round knockout. Before his aforenoted win over Wright – Silva stopped The Ultimate Fighter 23 victor, Andrew Sanchez with an eventual third round knockout win at UFC Vegas 40 in October. The win earned Silva a Performance of the Night bonus.

The UFC Fight Night event is slated to take place on March 12. – with a high-stakes light heavyweight clash between one-time title challenger, Thiago Santos, and the surging Dagestan striker, Magomed Ankalaev expected to headline.

Glover Teixeira: Alex Pereira Three Fights From Facing Israel Adesanya Again

Glover Teixeira Alex PereiraGlover Teixeira believes it won’t be long until we see Alex Pereira fight Israel Adesanya. Pereira recently enjoyed a successful UFC debut earlier this month when he knocked out Andreas Michailidis with a flying knee on the UFC 268 featured prelim earlier this month. Naturally, many were already eyeing up a future middleweight contest between […]

Glover Teixeira Alex Pereira

Glover Teixeira believes it won’t be long until we see Alex Pereira fight Israel Adesanya.

Pereira recently enjoyed a successful UFC debut earlier this month when he knocked out Andreas Michailidis with a flying knee on the UFC 268 featured prelim earlier this month.

Naturally, many were already eyeing up a future middleweight contest between him and current champion Israel Adesanya. That’s because the pair are 1-1 against each other in kickboxing with Pereira notably being the only fighter to knock out Adesanya.

And training partner and UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira believes a trilogy in the form of an MMA contest could take place in a year’s time.

“I told [Pereira], ‘One year,’” Teixeira said on The MMA Hour. “I told him when he signed with the UFC, ‘Hey man, they’ll be talking about you in about one year, three fights.’ Especially the way he fought. It couldn’t go better.

“I couldn’t be more happy as a coach as a training partner that’s been telling people that this guy is no joke. He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s learning things quick. He’ll get things quick. I’m talking about you get a regular guy and whatever, that guy’s gonna learn in six months – [Pereira will] learn in a week. You show him a move and he just does it.”

Glover Teixeira: Three More Fights For Adesanya vs. Pereira

Although it wasn’t Pereira’s MMA debut, it’s still very early in his MMA career as it was just his fourth fight in the sport.

However, Teixeira sees similarities between Pereira and himself in how they’re able to quickly pick up things and utilize it straight away.

That’s just another reason why he is confident Pereira is just three fights away from facing Adesanya.

“Alex is kind of like [me in training] and couldn’t have done better [at UFC 268],” Teixeira said. “He got taken down, he defended takedowns, he got up and he stayed there. You see the other guy come out of the clinch, the guy’s face was all messed up, he was dead tired and he come out with the flying knee. So calm, so relaxed.

“I say three more fights the most, and he wants to fight quick. He wants February already, he wants to fight quick, so he’s going to fight back to back probably. No injuries, no nothing. By this time next year, they’ll be talking about him and Adesanya.”

Do you agree with Glover Teixeira?