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Video – Israel Adesanya catches flak for forced reaction to Alex Pereira’s KO win at UFC 303

Israel Adesanya catches flak for forced reaction to Alex Pereira's knockout at UFC 303 Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya didn’t seem too impressed with Alex Pereira’s KO win over Jiri Prochazka at…

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya didn’t seem too impressed with Alex Pereira’s KO win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303.

Adesanya was watching the card and shared his reaction to his YouTube channel, which is what he does for all pay-per-views. Given that Adesanya has a rivalry with Pereira, many thought ‘The Last Stylebender’ would be paying close attention to the fight.

However, Israel Adesaya instead was just lying on the couch and all he said was ‘damn’ and claimed the card was cursed.

Despite the knockout being one of the best ones this year, Israel Adesanya didn’t seem to get too excited at all about what Pereira did to Prochazka at UFC 303.

Israel Adesanya Calls Alex Pereira A ‘Special Fighter’

Although Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have fought each other twice in kickboxing and twice in MMA and are rivals, ‘The Last Stylebender’ had nothing but praise for the Brazilian.

During an appearance on Demetrious Johnson’s MightyCast in April, Adesanya heaped praise on Pereira and their rivalry as he called him a special fighter.

“Honestly, he’s a special fighter,” Adesanya told Demetrious Johnson on the MightyCast (via MMAFighting). “He’s a special human being. What he’s done in this game, in fighting and for his life, as well, I’ll always respect him. I’m grateful for those moments because for me, it taught me so much about myself and where I can go. Same with the Kelvin Gastelum fight, it let me know I can go more. That one, I was ready to die, but this one, I just knew, ‘There’s no f****** way, this guy, I swear to God, I will die… fourth time’s a charm.”

“Then I knew, ‘Israel, there’s levels. You can go more. You can go more. So stay tuned.’ It’s not going to take another seven years before I get [Sean] Strickland. Stay tuned, you watch,” Adesanya added.

Adesanya did get the last laugh against Pereira as he knocked the Brazilian out to reclaim the middleweight title at UFC 287.

Dricus Du Plessis claims win over Israel Adesanya puts him in GOAT debate: ‘This is where I take over’

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis thinks a win over Israel Adesanya will put him into the GOAT conversation…

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis thinks a win over Israel Adesanya will put him into the GOAT conversation at middleweight.

Du Plessis is undefeated in the UFC and coming off a decision win over Sean Strickland to win the middleweight title. Heading into his first title defense at UFC 305 in Australia against Adesanya, he believes a win over the former champ will help cement his legacy as an all-time great.

“I’ve always looked at Israel Adesanya as the benchmark,” Du Plessis told Fox West Texas. “Now, ‘Izzy’ became a champion a long time ago, and I’ve looked at him and always knew this is where I need to be if I ever want to be the best in the world. This is the benchmark.

“He is one of the greatest to ever do it, and this fight for me is going to put me in that position. This is where I take over as one of the greatest to ever do it. This is where my years of building and climbing that ladder is going to a point where I am now the guy that’s one of the greatest to ever do it.”

Dricus du Plessis taunts Israel Adesanya into UFC title fight be a man of your word and let's do this — Mandatory Credit: Vaughan Ridley

Although Du Plessis believes he can enter the GOAT conversation with a win over Adesanya, the South African will need several more title defenses to be considered the 185lbs GOAT due to the reign of Anderson Silva. But, beating Adesanya no doubt puts him on the right track.

Dricus Du Plessis says Israel Adesanya will prove he belongs

Although Dricus Du Plessis enters his UFC 305 fight as the middleweight champion, he knows people are overlooking him and counting him out.

With that, Dricus Du Plessis says his fight will prove to everyone just how good he is and prove he is the legit champion.

“He’s a very smart fighter,” du Plessis said on Adesanya. “He figures out his opponents, and he sets a lot of traps. He does it incredibly well. So, for me, this fight is just like how beating Robert Whittaker was. It’s a fight that people don’t think you’re going to win. It’s a hard fight.

“I’m fighting against arguably one of the greatest middleweights ever, and I have to go out there and prove that I am that guy. That’s what this fight is going to mean to me. It’s going to mean I told you I belong here. This fight is going to mean that Dricus du Plessis is now in the conversation of being one of the greatest middleweights ever,” Du Plessis said.

Du Plessis is 21-2 as a pro and is coming off a split decision win over Sean Strickland to become the middleweight champion. He’s 7-0 in the UFC and has notable wins over Robert Whittaker, Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and Brad Tavares.

Dricus Du Plessis claims win over Israel Adesanya puts him in GOAT debate: ‘This is where I take over’

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis thinks a win over Israel Adesanya will put him into the GOAT conversation…

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis thinks a win over Israel Adesanya will put him into the GOAT conversation at middleweight.

Dricus Du Plessis says Israel Adesanya will prove he belongs

Although Dricus Du Plessis enters his UFC 305 fight as the middleweight champion, he knows people are overlooking him and counting him out.

With that, Dricus Du Plessis says his fight will prove to everyone just how good he is and prove he is the legit champion.

Robert Whittaker ready for redemption against Du Plessis and Adesanya after brutal Aliskerov knockout

After making a statement against Ikram Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia, Robert Whittaker is ready for a bit of redemption….

After making a statement against Ikram Aliskerov in Saudi Arabia, Robert Whittaker is ready for a bit of redemption.

Stepping inside Kingdom Arena in Riyadh for a scrap with one of the middleweight division’s most exciting prospects, ‘The Reaper’ delivered a highlight-reel-worthy finish in the opening round, blasting Aliskerov with a right hand followed by a KO-inducing uppercut less than two minutes into the scrap.

OH MY GOODNESS! ROBERT WHITTAKER KNOCKS OUT IKRAM ALISKEROV IN THE FIRST ROUND!#UFCSaudiArabia #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/I6FoXv0rBQ

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 22, 2024

With the victory, Whittaker is right back in the title picture at 185 and will be setting his sights on the upcoming clash between reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August.

With ‘Stillknocks’ and the ‘Stylebender’ being the only two men to have beaten Whittaker in the last decade, ‘The Reaper’ has redemption on his mind. Particularly when it comes to Du Plessis, a man Whittaker believes he is truly better than.

“Look at the paperwork. Since that fight, I’ve only improved,’ Whittaker said, referring to his UFC 290 fight with DDP during Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I’m not saying if I was on I would’ve beaten him. I’m not going to take that away from him,” Whittaker said. “He turned up on the day and beat me fair and square, and now he’s the world champion because of it; he’s a good fighter and he’s good at what he does.

“But I know I can do better. Will I beat him? Maybe he gets his hand raised again. But I know I can do better and I know I didn’t put my best foot forward in that fight, and I want to run it back because of that.”

Israel Adesanya is still on Robert Whittaker’s hit list

Of course, Robert Whittaker hasn’t forgotten about Israel Adesanya. Coming up short against the former two-time titleholder on two separate occasions, ‘Bobby Knuckles’ believes he’s more than ready to finally solve the puzzle and establish himself as the best middleweight in the world.

“Adesanya is still on that list. My goal in mixed martial arts is to live up to my own potential. That’s the only thing I want to achieve. I know how good I am. I’m the most dangerous middleweight on the planet, and everyone knows that. But they are big shoes to fill.

“That’s the only thing I ask for before I step in the Octagon, to live up to my own potential. Tonight, I think I did that.”

After suffering a second-round knockout against Adesanya at UFC 243, ‘The Reaper’ put on a much stronger showing in their 2022 rematch, though the ‘Stylebender’ still went home with his gold via a unanimous decision.

Whittaker truly feels that the third time will be the charm, and with Adesanya’s return to the Octagon right around the corner, he could be closer than ever to finally bagging that elusive third fight against his Nigerian nemesis.

Israel Adesanya expects Robert Whittaker to ‘beat the brakes’ off Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia

Israel Adesanya expects to see Robert Whittaker “beat the brakes” off Ikram Aliskerov. Stepping into the main event spotlight…

Israel Adesanya expects to see Robert Whittaker “beat the brakes” off Ikram Aliskerov.

Stepping into the main event spotlight on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, ‘The Reaper’ was expected to square off with undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev in a bout that had title eliminator written all over it. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case after ‘Borz’ became “violently ill” a week ahead of fight night.

Khamzat Chimaev out of Robert Whittaker fight

Replacing Chimaev will be Russian standout Ikram Aliskerov who will be making his third walk to the Octagon after a couple of stellar first-round finishes against Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves.

If he can score a win against Whittaker in Riyadh, he’ll thrust himself from an unranked newcomer to a legitimate top-five contender.

‘The Last Stylebender’ doesn’t see that happening.

“This is a banger of a fight,” Adesanya said of Whittaker vs. Aliskerov on his YouTube channel. “Also, this guy [Aliskerov], who did he last beat? Warlley Alves. It’s a big step up in competition though against Rob. Rob is a former champion, still on the hunt, still dangerous. I’m picking Rob in this fight.

“I think Robert is going to beat the brakes off this guy from Round 2 onwards. I think Rob gets past Round 1, he starts to put it on this guy, he’s going to feel a different beast. But, who knows? We’ll see. We haven’t seen him against competition like this yet. I just know how good Rob is so, I’m going to go Rob probably [Round] 3 or 4 TKO.”

Robert Whittaker could secure a title fight with a win at UFC Saudi Arabia

Adesanya knows firsthand just how tough Robert Whittaker is, having thrown hands with the New Zealander on two separate occasions. The ‘Stylebender’ came out on top in both instances, but ‘The Reaper’ is convinced that he can get the job done given a third opportunity.

With a win over Aliskerov, Whittaker may get that chance—depending on how things play out when Adesanya returns to challenge reigning middleweight world champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 on August 17.

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Israel Adesanya warns Dricus du Plessis with UFC 305 title fight official: ‘Don’t be afraid. Be terrified’

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya is officially slated to meet with incumbent divisional titleholder, Dricus du Plessis…

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya is officially slated to meet with incumbent divisional titleholder, Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in two months’ time – and has warned him to be “terrified” to face him in Perth.

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight gold holder, has been sidelined since last September, suffering a stunning upset title loss to Sean Strickland in the pair’s championship fight ‘Downunder’.

Israel Adesanya set to headline UFC 305 in title grudge fight with Dricus du Plessis in Australia

As for South African star, du Plessis, the incumbent middleweight champion headlined UFC 297 back in January, landing a controversial split decision win over the above-mentioned common-opponent, Strickland in Canada.

Israel Adesanya issues warning to Dricus du Plessis

Now officially scheduled to headline UFC 305 in Australia against reigning champion, du Plessis as he vows to become a three-time titleholder at 185lbs, Adesanya released a promotional video ahead of his fight with the Pretoria native – which included a steadfast warning to him.

Without a victory since April of last year in Miami, Adesanya managed to land his second middleweight title in undisputed fashion, rallying to finish current light heavyweight kingpin, Alex Pereira with a stunning second round KO in ‘The Sunshine State’.

Israel Adesanya reveals he's getting ready for fighting return amid links to UFC 305 clash with Dricus du Plessis — Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank – USA TODAY Sports

With his defeat to the previously mentioned, Strickland, Adesanya set an unwanted record by becoming the first fighter in the history of the organization to lose his championship title twice in the space of a calendar year.

Forever linked with a return on likely hostile territory in Perth, du Plessis claimed that any chance Adesanya had of fighting him came on his terms strictly.

Who do you think wins at UFC 305: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?