Tag: UFC 305

Former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has hinted he may have been carrying an injury into his title fight return at UFC 305 earlier this month, after former-foe, Alex Pereira noted the usually kick-heavy striker failed to utilize his lower limbs to great effect in his return to action.

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder the banner of the promotion, headlined UFC 305 in Perth, Australia earlier this month — taking on divisional champion and arch-rival, Dricus du Plessis.

And suffering a second consecutive loss for the first time in his decorated mixed martial arts career, City Kickboxing star, Adesanya was stopped with a fourth round rear-naked choke submission — dropping his first stoppage loss via that method in his career in combat sports.

And earlier this week, Israel Adesanya’s former opponent, Pereira speculated that the former champion was likely suffering from an undisclosed injury ahead of his fight with du Plessis at UFC 305.

“Of course, I don’t know how (Israel) Adesanya was,” Alex Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “When we are there, we don’t talk about injuries, don’t talk about problems. We are there. We want to fight, want to win — no excuses. Maybe Adesanya had an injury. You could see he kicked very little.”

Israel Adesanya hints at injury setback ahead of UFC 305

And reacting to Pereira’s claims, Adesanya appeared to give those theories some real credence, without showing his hand completely.

It’s weird how this guy (Alex Pereira) knows me… it’s like we’ve spent hours studying each other’s moves and fought multiple times or sumn’,” Israel Adesanya posted on his official X account. “I mean that.”

Himself slated to return in the main event of UFC 307, former middleweight champion, Pereira is set to defend his undisputed light heavyweight championship in a title fight against the surging knockout artist, Khalil Rountree in in October in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A four-time foe of former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, undisputed light heavyweight best, Alex Pereira has suggested the former may have been carrying an injury into his return at UFC 305 earlier this month — pointing to his kick-light approach to his fight with Dricus du Plessis.

Adesanya, a former undisputed middleweight champion twice under the banner of the promotion, headlined UFC 305 in Perth, Australia against bitter-rival, du Plessis — dropping his second consecutive loss for the first time in his mixed martial arts career.

Struggling with the pressure and timing of Pretoria native, du Plessis, Adesanya was stunned in the fourth round before he was swept off his feet with a takedown, and wrapped in a taut rear-naked choke — forced to tap and give up a middleweight title fight for the second bout in a row.

Alex Pereira shares thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s loss at UFC 305

And sharing his thoughts on the City Kickboxing staple’s performance, Pereira speculated that the Nigerian-Kiwi may have been harboring an injury ahead of his UFC 305 title fight with du Plessis — pointing to his kick-light display ‘Downunder.

“Of course, I don’t know how (Israel) Adesanya was,” Alex Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “When we are there, we don’t talk about injuries, don’t talk about problems. We are there. We want to fight, want to win — no excuses. Maybe Adesanya had an injury. You could see he kicked very little.”

“That inside kick of Adesanya’s is very good,” Alex Pereira explained. “Not everyone can do that, but he can do it very well. It was a good weapon and he didn’t continue doing that inside kick. Even Dricus (du Plessis) said it bothered him; it also bothered me. He didn’t continue to do it. When he is only throwing hands, I think it’s easier for the opponent to protect themselves or get out.”