Tag: UFC 281

Alex Pereira receives BJJ brown belt following UFC 281 win, fans react

Alex PereiraJust a few days into his UFC middleweight title reign, Alex Pereira has already earned himself another belt. As reported by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on Twitter, Pereira received his Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt from coach Plinio Cruz just three days removed from his shocking fifth-round finish of former middleweight king Israel Adesanya at UFC […]

Alex Pereira

Just a few days into his UFC middleweight title reign, Alex Pereira has already earned himself another belt.

As reported by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on Twitter, Pereira received his Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt from coach Plinio Cruz just three days removed from his shocking fifth-round finish of former middleweight king Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 on Saturday night.

“New UFC middleweight champ Alex Pereira was awarded his BJJ brown belt by his coach Plinio Cruz last night.”

The news was immediately met with skepticism by fans who quickly referenced Islam Makhachev’s comments to Daniel Cormier regarding the way BJJ black belts are seemingly handed out like candy on Halloween to some of MMA’s top stars.

We have to cancel many black belts [because] they make Jiu-Jitsu look bad,” said Makhachev. “Because a lot of guys have black belt but I don’t know [if they have the skills].

Love him or hate him, Alex Pereira is a bonafide belt collector. Under the GLORY Kickboxing banner, where he defeated Adesanya twice prior to their UFC 281 clash, Pereira was a two-division champion. Today, he is a UFC champion having defeated one of the most celebrated titleholders in the promotion’s history over the weekend.

The Brazilian kickboxer even commemorated his historic title win on Saturday night by getting a UFC championship belt tattooed on his arm. Pereira shared a video clip of the work being done on Instagram.

Fans React to Alex Pereira’s BJJ Brown Belt on Twitter

Following the news that Alex Pereira had received his BJJ brown belt, fans immediately reacted to the news in a mostly negative way.

Robert Whittaker previews future Alex Pereira fight: ‘Did you see the size of the fella?’

Robert WhittakerWhilst former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker believes he matches up well with newly minted division champion, Alex Pereira following his ascension to the throne at UFC 281 last weekend, the sheer stature and physique of the Brazilian left the ex-champion in awe. Whittaker, the #2 ranked middleweight contender, held the undisputed middleweight title […]

Robert Whittaker

Whilst former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker believes he matches up well with newly minted division champion, Alex Pereira following his ascension to the throne at UFC 281 last weekend, the sheer stature and physique of the Brazilian left the ex-champion in awe.

Whittaker, the #2 ranked middleweight contender, held the undisputed middleweight title back in 2017 after he was promoted in Georges St-Pierre – defeating Yoel Romero in a Fight of the Year rematch during his time as division outlier. 

Co-headlining UFC Fight Night Paris earlier this year against one-time title challenger, Marvin Vettori in France, Whittaker rebounded from a second career loss to Adesanya earlier this year – turning in a dominant striking performance to defeat the Italian over the course of three rounds.

Set to return to the Octagon on February 11. next at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia – Whittaker will draw Brazilian phenom, Paulo Costa, in what could spell a title-eliminator at 185lbs for both division contenders.

Robert Whittaker previews a future fight with UFC champion, Alex Pereira

Sharing his reaction to Adesanya’s stunning fifth round knockout loss to Sao Paulo finisher, Pereira during a live stream with UFC alum, Jens Pulver, Whittaker commented on a potential fight with the new champion this week, noting the Brazilian’s stunning stature at middleweight.

“Like I said before, I’m not planning past (Paulo) Costa, but I can say that I think (Alex) Pereira is a better matchup for me than Israel (Adesanya),” Robert Whittaker told assembled media at a UFC 284 press conference. “Just ‘cause of the way he stands, and he likes to push forward – the way he likes to fight, I feel, it gives me a better edge.”

“But in saying that, did you see the size of the fella?” Robert Whittaker continued. “Like, why is nobody mentioning that? Dude’s – dude is just giant. He’s an absolute giant. … You see Pereira up against him (Adesanya), and just his facial features are bigger, his feet and hands, and forearms are massive. I’m just thinking – who let this guy in? But still, I think I can take him.” 

While Whittaker appears confident of securing a title win against Pereira, the newly minted titleholder is widely expected to provide Adesanya an immediate undisputed title rematch in their next Octagon appearances, respectively.

Referee Marc Goddard Releases Statement On Adesanya/Pereira Stoppage

Referee Marc Goddard has spoken out for the first time on his decision to stop Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 281. The UFC 281 middleweight title headliner between Adesanya and Pereira came to a stunning halt as Pereira finished Adesanya in Ro…

Referee Marc Goddard has spoken out for the first time on his decision to stop Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 281. The UFC 281 middleweight title headliner between Adesanya and Pereira came to a stunning halt as Pereira finished Adesanya in Round 5. While Adesanya took a series of hard punches from Pereira…

Continue Reading Referee Marc Goddard Releases Statement On Adesanya/Pereira Stoppage at MMA News.

Sean Strickland: Immediate Rematch For Israel Adesanya Would Be Wrong

UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland does not believe that newly crowned champion Alex Pereira’s first title defense should come against Israel Adesanya. This past weekend at Madison Square Garden, a new king was crowned at 185 pounds. Meet…

UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland does not believe that newly crowned champion Alex Pereira’s first title defense should come against Israel Adesanya. This past weekend at Madison Square Garden, a new king was crowned at 185 pounds. Meeting for the third time in combat sports and the first occasion in MMA, Pereira challenged the dominant…

Continue Reading Sean Strickland: Immediate Rematch For Israel Adesanya Would Be Wrong at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya reveals PCL injury almost forced him to withdraw from UFC 281 clash with Alex Pereira

Israel AdesanyaFormer undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has revealed a lingering posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) almost forced him to withdraw from last weekend’s UFC 281 main event against Alex Pereira – limiting his preparation for hte middleweight title fight. Taking main event honors at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden in his third Octagon appearance […]

Israel Adesanya

Former undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has revealed a lingering posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) almost forced him to withdraw from last weekend’s UFC 281 main event against Alex Pereira – limiting his preparation for hte middleweight title fight.

Taking main event honors at UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden in his third Octagon appearance of this year, Adesanya suffered a fifth round knockout loss to Sao Paulo striker, Pereira, dropping his undisputed middleweight crown, as well as suffering his first loss at the weight class in his mixed martial arts career.

For Brazilian striker, Pereira, the former GLORY Kickboxing champion achieved UFC spoils inside just four Octagon outings, having previously landed a duo of high-profile victories over Nigerian-Kiwi striker, Adesanya during their respective kickboxing tenures. 

Israel Adesanya reveals how a PCL injury almost forced his withdrawal from UFC 281

Revealing how he was suffering from “some medical stuff” ahead of his New York outing against Pereira, Adesanya told comedian and podcast host, Andrew Schulz how he had suffered a PCL injury in the lead-up to his fight with the former.

“Israel Adesanya told @andrewschulz that he nearly pulled out of #UFC281 after injuring the PCL in his left knee,” Shakiel Mahjouri tweeted. “He only boxed and grappled for three weeks, no kicking, to help it heal in time for the Alex Pereira fight.” 

“Breaking news – I was gonna pull out of this fight early on,” Israel Adesanya said. “Last time I fought in New York, [UFC] 230, I was gonna pull out of that fight [with Derek Brunson], with three weeks left. But then with – Brunson, with my knee, this knee [slaps right knee], but I hand cortisone injection, I took a whole five days off, nothing, no nothing, five days off. And then it just got better. …” 

“This time, from the last fight with (Jared) Cannonier, I hurt my PCL, and that’s the thing that keeps your knee from going backwards,” Israel Adesanya continued. “Early in camp, I had some problems, so there was – how many weeks? Maybe like three weeks, I just did boxing – boxing and grappling, no kicking. … I was gonna pull out early on, but I was like, ‘Nah, I wanna get this done.’ I’m a prideful man. I’ll be damned if people say I’m scared of this guy (Alex Pereira), because I know I’m not.” 

Israel Adesanya reveals plan to survive Alex Pereira knockout barrage: ‘I was waiting for him to gas out’

Israel AdesanyaFormer UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed he had planned to wait for newly minted champion, Alex Pereira to “gas out” during his fifth round finishing sequence, before he was eventually stopped. Headlining UFC 281 over the course of last weekend at Madison Square Garden, Adesanya suffered a fifth round standing TKO loss to […]

Israel Adesanya

Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed he had planned to wait for newly minted champion, Alex Pereira to “gas out” during his fifth round finishing sequence, before he was eventually stopped.

Headlining UFC 281 over the course of last weekend at Madison Square Garden, Adesanya suffered a fifth round standing TKO loss to Pereira, in his attempt to secure his seventh successful defense of the middleweight crown.

Likely leading the scorecards in a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth and final round, Adesanya was then defeated in the final frame, after he was wobbled on the feet by an uppercut from Pereira, before the Sao Paulo native’s patented left hook found it’s home.

Attempting to evade Pereira’s follow-up strikes at the Octagon fence, Israel Adesanya failed to get out of the way for the most part, with referee, Marc Goddard jumping in to call a halt to the bout, crowning Pereira as the new undisputed middleweight best.

Israel Adesanya reveals his plan to survive Alex Pereira’s onslaught at UFC 281 

And in the days following his first career loss at the middleweight limit in mixed martial arts, Adesanya has claimed he was waiting for Pereira to “gas out” in that finishing sequence, despite maintaining he could understand Goddard’s decision to stop the fight.

“So, I was like, ‘OK, stand there, stand there, just don’t move, anymore, let him (Alex Pereira) gas out,” Israel Adesanya told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “So I was waiting for him to take big shots, so I put my head down; I could see his arms, and I could see his legs. That’s all I needed to look at. I know where his head is. So I’m just there moving, moving, moving. But to the referee, after two big shots and then I wobble, and I’m standing there looking like that, he’s going to be like, ‘Nah.’ And he’s being safe.”

“So when he (Marc Goddard) jumped in I’m like, ‘I’m fine. Aw, f*ck.’” Israel Adesanya continued. “I was literally just disappointed. I was waiting for him to gas out so I can do my work. I was going to take him down and then beat him up again.” 

Attempting to land himself an immediate title rematch with Brazilian finisher, Pereira next, Adesanya insisted that even if the new champion were to lose the title immediately in his first attempted title defense, he would fight him in a non-title bout in his Octagon return.