Tag: alex pereira

Two-time UFC middleweight titleholder, Israel Adesanya has denied claims that his knockout blow against arch-rival, Alex Pereira was a “hail mary” strike at UFC 287 last month – admitting he knew he could take some of the Brazilian’s strikes at the Octagon fence. 

Adesanya, who headlined UFC 287 last month in an undisputed middleweight championship rematch against arch-foe, Pereira, managed to rack up his first victory over the Sao Paulo native in their four-fight series. 

Countering after being stunned at the Octagon fence in the second round, Adesanya launched two massive counter right hooks, dropping Pereira to the canvas as he recorded a spectacular KO, reclaiming his middleweight title.

Israel Adesanya denies the need for a hail mary finish of Alex Pereira at UFC 287

However, receiving some flak for his performance with many in the community claiming Adesanya luckily found a “hail mary” strike to finish Pereira, the Nigerian-Kiiw has denied that theory, calling his method to success, “freestyle”.

“He (Alex Pereira) hurt my leg,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “I’m like, ‘Right, if I go southpaw to hide it…’ He hits me in the body and I’m like, ‘F*ck, okay, you know what? Just give it to him. He’s gonna come close.’ I’m like, ‘You’re right there now,’ so I gave him a few shots, cause I knew I could shell and I could see everything. Right, checkmate, boom. What f*cking hail mary is that? It’s freestyle.” (Transcribed by MMA News)

Expected to return before the close of this year in a comeback to Sydney, Australia for the UFC, Adesanya has been earmarked to fight either former foe, Robert Whittaker, or surging contender, Dricus du Plessis next – taking umbrage with comments made from the latter in his pursuit of a title shot against him.

“He’s (Dricus du Plessis) created division,” Israel Adesanya said. “This is not the time for that sh*t. You could have definitely got the fight without talking all that sh*t. Well, be careful what you wish for. You got what you want. He’s next. I’m going to f*cking beat him until he’s black.”

“I’m going to f*cking take him to school, in the Octagon, and on history,” Israel Adesanya explained. “What he’s doing is creating divide. You can’t not know your history – I have never questioned him as an African, because yeah, you were born in Africa. South Africa. Of course, you’re an African. I have never questioned that. But who the f*ck is this cracker to tell me who the f*ck I am? Who the f*ck Kamaru (Usman) is, who the f*ck (Francis) Ngannou is? I’m like, are you dumb? As a product of colonization, you’re trying to tell me who the f*ck I am. You can take the boy out of Africa, but you can never take Africa out of the boy.”

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has insisted that despite suffering a thunderous second round KO loss to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 earlier this month, he is still better than the two-time division champion – pointing to his three prior successes against the latter.

Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion under the promotion’s banner, headlined UFC 287 against Adesanya earlier this month in Miami, Florida – dropping his undisputed title in a stunning, second round knockout loss to the City Kickboxing staple.

The matchup came as the fourth time Pereira and Adesanya traded leather, with the Brazilian landing three shutout consecutive victories before his loss at UFC 287.

Chalking his first triumph as part of their four-fight series with his knockout win, Adesanya balked at an immediate championship trilogy fight with Alex Pereira off the back of UFC 287, with the Sao Paulo native in turn, set to make a light heavyweight division leap.

Alex Pereira reminds Israel Adesanya of the score from their four-fight series

Taking solace in his sole win over Pereira in ‘The Sunshine State’, Adesanya has been told to steady his celebrations by the Brazilian – who reminded him of the 3-1 deficit he still finds himself up against off the back of UFC 287.

“We are the best,” Alex Pereira tweeted, accompanied by footage of his prior fights with Israel Adesanya. “But I’m still better. Numbers don’t lie. 3:1.” 

Yet to book his impending light heavyweight debut, Pereira has been tipped to avoid a potential fight with former vacant title chaser, Magomed Ankalaev in his promotional debut, however, has been backed to improve the division by former champion, Jiri Prochazka to boot.

As for Nigerian-Kiwi striker, Adesanya, the two-time middleweight champion is expected to fight the winner of a Robert Whittaker versus Dricus du Plessis title-eliminator later this year, in an earmarked Sydney, Australia outing for the UFC.