Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira again?
Another fight between the two longtime foes seems unlikely given that Pereira is set to move up to the light heavyweight division for an upcoming fight with Jan Blachovic, while Adesanya awaits the next contender for the middleweight title. But given their history, it’s not out of the question that the two would face off again in the figure eight.
Adesanya scored the first win in his four-fight streak with Pereira at UFC 287 last April, finally defeating Pereira after losing a title fight at UFC 281 and two previous kickboxing losses to the Brazilian striker. Although they both seem content to move on from the series for now, Adesanya will enjoy a three-way MMA match with Pereira if Pereira becomes champion in his new division.
“If he wins the belt at 205, I will do it again,” said Adesanya. MMA watch. “If not, I think he’s done with it, I’m done with it, and everyone wants to see it, but we’ve moved on. It’s life.”
Pereira was a two-division champion in the Glory Kickboxing promotion, so he’s no stranger to conquering two weight classes. Blachowicz, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, meets in the co-main event of UFC 291 on July 29.
One of Blachowicz’s successful defenses came against Adesanya, so Adesanya had some matching tips for Pereira during the final airport round.
“I suspect [Pereira] might kick him out. Adesanya said…we talked for a good couple of minutes or so and I gave him some advice on how to deal with Jan. “We had the same idea, like, that he was going to knock him out, but I warned him, ‘Look, just be careful because he knows your hitting is really good, so he’s going to be as patient with you as he was with me.'” What we expected him to do he didn’t because he’s a great striker. He had the same idea, but I feel that if Jan doesn’t take him, [Pereira] You will expel him.”
One of the reasons why Adesanya is not committed when it comes to another fight with Pereira is how satisfied he is with knocking out Pereira in the second MMA fight. Pereira has knockout victories over Adesanya in both kickboxing and in the UFC, which Adesanya feels overshadows his legacy.
Now, he is satisfied with what happens next with respect to Pereira.
“We still have more to go, but for sure,” Adesanya said when asked if his victory at UFC 287 was one of the most satisfying moments of his career. “I already said this, if we fight 10 more times and he beats me all 10 times, I don’t care. It has nothing to do with that. I just have to prove to myself that I can beat this guy because every time I fought him – the first time I won this fight, the referees messed up.” The second time, I was hitting him and he caught me. The third time, again MSG, I was hitting him, and then he caught me. I’m like, we know we can beat this guy, but he just has that spirit. He’s a great fighter. He’s a great guy, I love his story, even in Brazil when he kicked me out, that’s a really great story for him. It’s a really great story for him, but I knew I could beat this guy.
“I just had to put it on myself. I pushed a lot on myself in the latter camp… I really had to go to some dark places and do it myself. I got in my hole and did my thing and I had to do it because I knew these It’s my shot. I pushed myself because I was like, ‘I’m not going to let my story be written like that,’ like ‘He’s the greatest of all, but he couldn’t beat this guy.’ So I made sure I put it on myself to beat this guy and I did.”
It’s unclear how much work Pereira would have to do at 205 pounds to secure a key shot. If he defeats Blachowicz, it could lead him to a title shot against current champion Jamhal Hill (Hill has already expressed interest in fighting Pereira). However, he may also have to wait in line if former champion Jiri Prochazka returns from injury soon.
Given the circumstances, Adesanya makes no guarantees about another fight with Pereira.
“If I’m going to bet money on her, no,” said Adesanya. 205, I’ve been there, it’s tough. It is not an easy task. If he wins the belt 205 and they may give him a fast track like they did me, they will have an epic, glamorous, insane fight on the 205 with me and him. This will be our fifth time. Isn’t that wild? “