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Israel Adesanya targeted to make UFC return in June following title win: ‘We wanna fight straight away’

Clinching the undisputed middleweight title just last weekend, recently minted champion, Israel Adesanya is being lined up for a quickfire Octagon comeback, with head coach, Eugene Bareman touting a potential eight-week timeframe for his return. Adesanya, now a two-time undisputed middleweight champion under the banner of the UFC, headlined the promotion’s UFC 287 flagship event […]

Adesanya, now a two-time undisputed middleweight champion under the banner of the UFC, headlined the promotion’s UFC 287 flagship event last weekend, stopping Brazilian rival, Alex Pereira with a stunning second round KO at the Octagon fence.

The victory propelled Israel Adesanya back to the winner’s enclosure after he suffered a fifth round standing TKO loss to Pereira in the main event of UFC 281 back in November, dropping his undisputed middleweight crown.

Israel Adesanya linked with a move to the light heavyweight division

Linked with a potential return to the Octagon in the form of a light heavyweight move and title fight against current undisputed champion, Jamahal Hill by the above-mentioned, Bareman, the City Kickboxing leader suggested Adesanya will be ready to compete as soon as June – eyeing a quickfire return.

“What it does is it provides weird opportunities,” Eugene Bareman told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “Because, as you know, the sport must move on, the division must move on, we have to fight someone. So it will provide some weird opportunity for someone that people are least expecting to get a title shot, to get a title shot.”

“That’s where these guys who haven’t fought Israel (Adesanya), there’s an opportunity there if they jump on it. And how you jump on it is you win the fights that you need to win,” Bareman explained. “But there’s also other means, you know? Like you create a bit of a storm, in social media and in the media. There’s an opportunity there for someone to grab, they just have to do it. We wanna fight straight away. We’ll fight in eight weeks. There’s an opportunity there, someone needs to grab it.” (Transcribed by MMANews)

As well as a potential title excursion of his own against Hill, Israel Adesanya has been linked with fights against Sean Strickland, and most notably – what appears to be a tense rivalry with South African finisher, Dricus du Plessis.

UFC’s Alex Pereira Moves to Light Heavyweight; Still Eyes Israel Adesanya Fight

After losing the UFC middleweight title to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 last week, Alex Pereira is moving up a weight class. According to Drake Riggs and…

Dricus du Plessis issues warning to Israel Adesanya: ‘Show me how you’ll drag my carcass around’

Surging middleweight contender, Dricus du Plessis has taken issue with what he perceives as “threats” from newly minted undisputed champion, Israel Adesanya – calling for the kingpin to show how he plans to drag his carcass across the country of South Africa. du Plessis, the current #6 ranked middleweight contender, has embarked on a run […]

du Plessis, the current #6 ranked middleweight contender, has embarked on a run of five consecutive victories since is move to the UFC back in 2020, with the former KSW and EFC champion most recently competing last month.

Featuring at UFC 285 at the T-Mobile Arena, the South African turned in a corner’s stoppage TKO victory over common-opponent, Derek Brunson.

Taking issue with claims from Adesanya that he would drag his carcass across his native South Africa if they shared the Octagon, Dricus du Plessis urged the City Kickboxing staple to celebrate his title win at “home” in New Zealand.

Dricus du Plessis issues warning to Israel Adesanya

And furthermore, the 29-year-old finisher has questioned if comments from newly-minted undisputed titleholder, Adesanya, were made in a bid to attempt to strike fear into him.

“For him (Israel Adesanya) saying that, does he think I’m scared of him?” Dricus du Plessis said to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I am not scared of that man. The fact that he put some threats out there, obviously, he’s forgotten, because I don’t take kindly to threats. Over here, it doesn’t work like that. If you want to make threats, come and show me. Come and show me how you’ll drag my carcass around. I would love to see you try.”

“And like I said in that message [tweet], UFC Africa is far away from being done. It’s probably going to happen next year,” Dricus du Plessis explained. “I don’t want to wait that long. I will beat him this year, and after that fight, if he still feels like he has all this power over me and he’s trying to intimidate me, that’s good. Then come to Africa next year, and we’ll fight for the belt in a rematch, where I’m the champion. Because that fight’s not happening this year, and he does not scare me. Not one little bit.”

In the midst of a seven-fight winning run, du Plessis, who also holds a knockout win over former two-weight KSW champion and recent ONE Championship debutante, Roberto Soldic, has landed notable Octagon victories over the likes of Brad Tavares, and one-time welterweight title challenger, Darren Till to boot.

Alex Pereira confirms move to light heavyweight following UFC 287 title loss: ‘I’m going up’

Former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Alex Pereira has confirmed plans to make a division climb to the light heavyweight limit for his next Octagon walk, following his championship loss to Israel Adesanya last weekend at UFC 287. Taking main event status at the Miami, Florida pay-per-view event, Brazilian striker, Pereira suffered his first promotional loss […]

Taking main event status at the Miami, Florida pay-per-view event, Brazilian striker, Pereira suffered his first promotional loss in a championship rematch with arch-rival, Adesanya.

Winning the undisputed middleweight championship back in November of last year in the main event of UFC 281, Sao Paulo native, Pereira stopped Adesanya with a rallying performance at Madison Square Garden.

However, suffering his first loss to the Nigerian-Kiwi as part of their four-fight series at UFC 287 last weekend, Alex Pereira was stopped with a devastating second round KO from Adesanya in the ‘Sunshine State’ – with the latter chalking up his first victory over the now-former champion at the fourth time of trying.

Alex Pereira confirms move to light heavyweight division

Linked with an immediate move to the light heavyweight limit of 205lbs for his next Octagon walk by UFC president, Dana White, Pereira has now confirmed he will test waters currently swam best by Jamahal Hill for his next Octagon outing.

“Hi, folks, like I promised, I’ll announce you big news on my channel,” Alex Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “My next fight will be in 205[lbs] [division]. Yeah, you heard right – my next fight will be in 205[lbs]. I think I did my work in 185 and now I’m feelin’ good to go up to 205. Like I told you, when I’m feeling good, I will go up – this will be something natural. And now I think it is.”

Furthermore, Pereira claimed that if he wished to stay around at middleweight and pursue a title trilogy rubber match with Adesanya, the UFC would grant him that fight, however, he claimed the City Kickboxing native will not likely try to provoke him because he does not fight at middleweight anymore.

“… All of you saw the provocation from (Israel) Adesanya after the fight – he acts as if he has won against me three times,” Alex Pereira explained. “But it’s not like this. But I understand – or try to understand, the happiness he has. It was his dream to win one time against me. And now he did. But let’s see what will be his behavior. I’m going to light heavyweight because it’s a good option for me. But I’m sure if I stay in this division (middleweight), I can fight against him directly. Let’s see, how he behaves.”

Off the back of his middleweight title redemption at UFC 287, Adesanya was linked with a potential move to the light heavyweight limit himself, with head coach, Eugene Bareman weighing up a title outing against Jamahal Hill.

Furthermore, immediate title fight defenses against both the likes of Sean Strickland, and the surging Dricus du Plessis have also been floated since Adesanya’s championship victory last weekend.

Israel Adesanya labelled greatest middleweight of all time, surpasses UFC great Anderson Silva

Israel Adesanya has firmly passed former undisputed middleweight champion, Anderson Silva as the greatest middleweight fighter of all time according to UFC play-by-play lead, Jon Anik – who claims the strength of schedule and second round KO win over Alex Pereira solidify his claims. Taking main event honors at UFC 287 over the course of […]

Taking main event honors at UFC 287 over the course of last weekend, Adesanya managed to reclaim the undisputed middleweight title with a stunning second round knockout win over defending champion, Pereira.

Forced to return to the middleweight limit for the first time in his professional mixed martial arts career, the Nigerian-Kiwi had dropped his crown to Pereira back in November of last year at UFC 281, suffering a fifth round TKO loss at the Octagon fence.

Rallying and surviving a striking onslaught from Pereira at UFC 287 over the weekend, Israel Adesanya countered at the fence, stopping the Brazilian with a massive right hook counter, sending him to the Octagon canvas.

Heralded for his victory – namely by UFC welterweight Matt Brown following his knockout win, Adesanya, who has been touted as one of the top-5 greatest of all time, has now eclipsed the above-mentioned, Silva as the best middleweight to ever grace the sport.

“In my humble opinion, [the UFC 287 win] cements Israel Adesanya as the greatest [middleweight] of all time,” Jon Anik said on ESPN First Take. “There are people who can still argue Anderson Silva is the greatest middleweight champion of all time, and in terms of the title defenses, that is okay.”

“But, I sit here in 2023, and not just argue for Adesanya’s case as one of the best pound-for-pound guys right now,” Anik explained. “I think he’s the greatest middleweight champion of all time on his strength of schedule, and based on this win.”

Israel Adesanya landed a win over Anderson Silva back in 2019

Sharing the Octagon with former middleweight champion, Silva back in February 2019 in the main event of UFC 234, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya managed to land a unanimous decision triumph against the former pound-for-pound number one.

Israel Adesanya touted to make light heavyweight title siege against Jamahal Hill next: ‘Sign it, let’s do it’

While ruling out the possibility of an immediate championship trilogy rubber match against Alex Pereira next, newly crowned division champion, Israel Adesanya has been linked to a light heavyweight move of his own against division titleholder, Jamahal Hill, by head coach, Eugene Bareman. Headlining UFC 287 over the course of last weekend, Adesanya reclaimed his […]

Headlining UFC 287 over the course of last weekend, Adesanya reclaimed his undisputed middleweight title with a devastating second round KO win over Pereira in Miami, Florida.

Adesanya, who scored his first victory over the Brazilian as part of their infamous four-fight series, dropped his middleweight crown against the Sao Paulo striker back in November of last year at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden in a fifth round TKO loss.

Israel Adesanya touted to pursue Jamahal Hill title fight in UFC return

Ruling out the possibility of fighting Pereira in a title trilogy rubber match himself following his redemption in the ‘Sunshine State’, Israel Adesanya has been touted to potentially pursue a light heavyweight title again, this time against recently minted champion, Hill.

“Let’s do it,” Eugene Bareman said of a fight between Israel Adesanya and Jamahal Hill during an interview with Submission Radio. “Let’s do it. And honestly, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter [about whether we match up well with the current champion]. Like every fighter that you fight will have flaws. And that’s up to the opponent and the team to take advantage of them. So, Jamahal Hill, I’m not being disrespectful. I haven’t seen him fight yet. I don’t think. But i don’t watch the fights.”

“…If you’re a world champion, you’re the best of the best,” Eugene Bareman explained. “I’m sure. He is a very tough fight. I’ve seen him at the after party, I’m sure he is a nice fella. But it’s not about that. Like, it’s about the challenges, man. When you get to this level, it’s about challenges. Let’s do it. Sign it, like, get it done, boys. Can you get it done?”

Minting himself as the undisputed light heavyweight champion back in January at UFC 283 in Brazil, Hill, a product of Dana White’s Contender Series – managed to defeat Glover Teixeira in a one-sided unanimous decision victory.

Failing in his pursuit of duel-weight champion status back in 2021, Adesanya suffered a unanimous decision loss to former division champion, Jan Blachowicz in his first professional defeat.