Maintaining that he has now settled the score with Brazilian rival Alex Pereira after his April knockout win, UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya admits he will never engage in a combative sports situation with the former again – unless the former lands In light heavyweight spoils.
Adesanya, the current champ and two-time Middleweight Champion, stepped up to UFC 287 again in April in Miami, Florida against Sao Paulo native Pereira, scoring a stunning second-round KO victory over the reigning GLORY Kickboxing Gold Medalist.
The win by knockout put Adesanya back in the winner’s container for the first time in his MMA middleweight career, after a UFC 281 permanent TKO loss to Pereira in the title showdown.
Israel Adesanya plays down the possibility of a rematch with Alex Pereira
And despite posting a 1-3 record against Brazilian artist Pereira, over the course of his four-match professional series, Adesanya, who claims his score is with the former, also denied having a potential fight with the Brazilian in the future again. .
If (Alex Pereira) wins at 205 [pound] Belt, maybe,” Israel Adesanya said about another fight with Alex Pereira during an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “If-if he wins the 205-pound belt.”
“If I want to bet money on it, no,” Israel Adesanya explained. ‘Cause 205 – I’ve been there, it’s hard. It’s no easy feat. But, yeah, if he wins the 205-pound belt though – and they [the UFC] Might give him a fast lane, like they did to me. And then they will have an epic, crazy, magical battle with me and him. Then it’ll be us for the fifth time – isn’t that wild? “
Yet not booked since regaining the gold, Adesanya is slated to headline the September pay-per-view card against former champion, Robert Whitaker, or rookie, Dricus du Plessis.
As for Pereira, the fan favorite is booked to co-headline at UFC 291 next month in Salt Lake City, Utah — to soon face joint opponent, former lightweight champion Jan Blasovic.