UFC welterweight Kevin Holland has made his prediction for the UFC 281 main event between reigning middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. On Saturday, November 12, Adesanya will take to the Octagon inside New York’s prestigiou…
UFC welterweight Kevin Holland has made his prediction for the UFC 281 main event between reigning middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. On Saturday, November 12, Adesanya will take to the Octagon inside New York’s prestigious Madison Square Garden for the sixth defense of his 185-pound gold. The latest challenger to his dominant rule…
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has sent a unique request the way of Dana White ahead of his clash with Alex Pereira this weekend. At UFC 281, Adesanya will headline his third pay-per-view of 2022. Having beaten Robert Whittaker and Jared Can…
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya has sent a unique request the way of Dana White ahead of his clash with Alex Pereira this weekend. At UFC 281, Adesanya will headline his third pay-per-view of 2022. Having beaten Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier in February and July, respectively, “The Last Stylebender” will close out his in-cage…
Fight week is upon us, fight fans, which means the countdown to UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira has officially begun. The UFC has released the official countdown video for this weekend’s UFC 281 pay-per-view. The three feature bouts on tap for fans…
Fight week is upon us, fight fans, which means the countdown to UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira has officially begun. The UFC has released the official countdown video for this weekend’s UFC 281 pay-per-view. The three feature bouts on tap for fans include Israel Adesanya defending his middleweight championship against former kickboxing nemesis Alex Pereira,…
Since his recent arrival in the UFC, undefeated wrestling prospect, Bo Nickal has picked fights at middleweight and welterweight with the likes of champion, Israel Adesanya, and Khamzat Chimaev, respectively. And questions the former’s ability to prevent him from snatching his crown with a submission victory. A two-time feature on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier […]
Since his recent arrival in the UFC, undefeated wrestling prospect, Bo Nickal has picked fights at middleweight and welterweight with the likes of champion, Israel Adesanya, and Khamzat Chimaev, respectively. And questions the former’s ability to prevent him from snatching his crown with a submission victory.
A two-time feature on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year, Nickal, a decorated amateur wrestling talent and grappling maestro, landed a comprehensive rear-naked choke win over Zachary Borrego back in August, before returning and earning a UFC contract with a quickfire armbar win against Donovan Beard the following month.
Teasing a potential future fight against the undefeated welterweight crusher, Chimaev off the back of his singing with the Dana White-led promotion, Nickal was initially booked to make his Octagon debut against Jamie Pickett at UFC 282 in December, however, was forced out of the debut due to an injury last month.
Bo Nickal talks up a potential title clash with Israel Adesanya
Speaking with former UFC middleweight titleholder, Michael Bisping, Nickal, who has been touted as a legitimate threat to the division reign of Adesanya due to his wrestling ability and grappling expertise, questioned how the Nigerian-Kiwi striker could prevent him from submitting him.
“Of course, when I go in there with a guy like Israel Adesanya, yeah, he’s a killer on the feet,” Bo Nickal told Michael Bisping when asked for his thoughts on the potential fight in the future. “He can knock anybody out, he has amazing striking. And that goes without saying. Anytime you go into a fight there’s a risk of being knocked out. For me, when I look at that, that’s my only chance of losing that fight. There’s not really a chance in the world he’s keeping me away and picking me apart for five, or four rounds.”
“I don’t really know how he’s (Israel Adesanya) gonna stop me from bringing him to the ground and submitting him,” Bo Nickal explained. “I get it, yeah, there’s always going to be a chance that I get knocked out, but we see this story too many times in this sport. And we know how it goes.”
As for Adesanya, the City Kickboxing staple is set to headline UFC 281 next weekend against challenger, Alex Pereira – attempting to secure his sixth successful title defense at the middleweight limit at Madison Square Garden.
Israel Adesanya expects to deliver a violent affair when he defends his middleweight crown against Alex Pereira at UFC 281. ‘The Last Stylebender’ will look to continue his reign of supreme at the top of the middleweight division when he defends his title against fellow former kickboxing opponent, Alex Pereira, at UFC 281. Adesanya has […]
Israel Adesanya expects to deliver a violent affair when he defends his middleweight crown against Alex Pereira at UFC 281.
‘The Last Stylebender’ will look to continue his reign of supreme at the top of the middleweight division when he defends his title against fellow former kickboxing opponent, Alex Pereira, at UFC 281.
Adesanya has faced his next opponent on two previous occasions when both men competed in kickboxing, suffering defeat on both occasions. Despite this Adesanya is ready to deliver a violent affair when he steps into face Pereira for the first time in MMA.
Speaking in an interview with TMZ Sports TV, the middleweight champion aims to start the mental warfare with Pereira before the pair enter the cage, promising to leave the octagon and his opponent in a bloody state.
“I want to make this a horror movie.”
“I want to be the first person he sees when he wakes up. I want to make sure I’m right in his line of sight so he’s looking at me,” Israel Adesanya said.
Despite suffering defeats previously when the two men encountered, Israel Adesanya believes people are making too much out of their previous meetings and feels competing against Pereira in MMA suits him far better than it does the Brazilian.
“100%, even though the way you defend is different, the way you attack is different. It’s kinda stupid sometimes. No disrespect to kickboxing,” Adesanya stated.
“I always felt my striking was better suited for MMA, for the glove size but also the way, the freeness of attacking, I can clinch someone and trip ’em down. I can elbow, things like that and I know he’s good at stuff like that as well but I’ve been doing this a lot longer.”
Israel Adesanya reflects on kickboxing encounters with Alex Pereira
Despite not showing much concern about suffering two defeats to Pereira previously, Israel Adesanya revealed he has gone over the footage from the two previous times they have shared the ring.
Instead, Adesanya sees this as a chance for redemption, both men have grown exponentially since previously fighting but the 185-pound champion feels his experience competing in mixed martial arts is going to hold great value when the pair meet in the headline matchup at UFC 281.
“I’ve looked back at them and I’ve taken a few things away from them but it is a different fight. I’m not the same guy, he’s not the same guy either, but again, I’ve been doing this a lot longer and people forget,” Adesanya said.
“For me, I have reminded them. I always do when it’s time. I remind people and show them how great I am. This is just another one of those times I have to do it.”
The fight goes down Saturday … inside the “world’s most famous arena.” (Transcribed by TMZ Sports)
With so many closely contested matchups taking place at UFC 281 be sure to check out our best bet column and see just exactly who we believe will be the middleweight champion once the final curtain closes.
Will Israel Adesanya retain his middleweight title at UFC 281, or will Alex Pereira be able to secure a third victory and claim the 185-pound title?
Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas feels Zhang Weili vs. Carla Esparza will be more competitive than most believe. Namajunas lost the strawweight belt to Esparza at UFC 274 earlier this year. The fight wasn’t exactly entertaining and …
Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas feels Zhang Weili vs. Carla Esparza will be more competitive than most believe. Namajunas lost the strawweight belt to Esparza at UFC 274 earlier this year. The fight wasn’t exactly entertaining and featured lackluster action from start to finish. After earning a split decision win, Esparza will defend her…