The Epic Rivalry Between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira Comes to a Fiery Conclusion
It’s a tale as old as time – two fighters, each with their own unique style and skill set, locked in a fierce rivalry that captivates the world. This is the story of Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, two of the most talented and entertaining fighters in the world of mixed martial arts.
Their feud began in the ring and in the cage, with two intense kickboxing matches and one UFC title fight. After years of back and forth battles, Adesanya finally emerged victorious at UFC 287 in April 2023, reclaiming the middleweight championship and securing his first win in their four-fight series.
Since then, Adesanya has faced ups and downs, losing the title to Sean Strickland and taking a break from the sport. Meanwhile, Pereira has moved up a weight class and become the light heavyweight champion.
But despite their intense rivalry, Adesanya and Pereira have always maintained a level of respect for each other. In an interview with Kosport Magazine, Adesanya spoke about the impact that Pereira has had on his career.
“Honestly, he’s a special fighter,” Adesanya said. “He’s a special human being. What he’s done in this game, in fighting and for his life, as well, I’ll always respect him. I’m grateful for those moments because for me, it taught me so much about myself and where I can go.”
Adesanya also reflected on his mindset during their last fight, where he was determined to come out on top after three previous losses to Pereira.
“I just knew, ‘Israel, there’s levels. You can go more. You can go more. So stay tuned.’ It’s not going to take another seven years before I get [Sean] Strickland. Stay tuned, you watch.”
The End of an Era: Adesanya vs. Pereira III?
The history between Adesanya and Pereira is well-documented, with Pereira winning their first kickboxing bout via a controversial decision and their second kickboxing bout via a vicious knockout punch out of nowhere. When the two first fought in MMA at UFC 281, Adesanya was up on the scorecards before Pereira caught him with a fight-ending flurry in the fifth round.
Their rivalry has been filled with memorable moments, from Pereira’s son mocking Adesanya after a win to Adesanya’s epic celebration after defeating Pereira in their last fight.
But with Adesanya now focused on reclaiming his title and Pereira dominating in the light heavyweight division, the question remains – will we see a third fight between these two warriors?
Adesanya isn’t convinced that it’s necessary, stating, “I just knew, I can beat this guy. It wasn’t about proving it to anyone else, it’s about myself. I know I can beat this guy, so that last Miami one, I was in different place. I had to tap into some darkness for that camp.”
He also expressed concern about fighting the same opponent multiple times, saying, “I’m 34. I’ve only got certain more fights left, why am I going to fight the same guy how many times? I just wanted to prove to myself who’s the best.”
But with both fighters still in their prime and the demand for a third fight between them, only time will tell if we will witness the epic conclusion to this legendary rivalry. One thing is for sure – the world will be watching.
