Israel Adesanya, a renowned mixed martial artist, and former UFC middleweight champion is brimming with confidence ahead of his highly anticipated rematch with Alex Pereira at UFC 287.
Despite losing his title at UFC 281. Adesanya believes he can emerge victorious against his long-time rival and hopes to finish him within the five-round limit.
In a recent interview with Nedd Brockmann. Israel revealed that his ultimate goal is not to reclaim the middleweight title but to deliver a stunning knockout blow to Pereira.
The two fighters have a storied history. With Pereira being the only fighter to defeat Adesanya in kickboxing. As such, Israel is highly motivated to avenge his previous loss and emerge triumphant in their upcoming showdown.
Israel Adesanya is improving his skills
Adesanya’s dedication to his craft is evident in his relentless training regimen and unwavering focus on his opponent. He knows that Pereira is a formidable opponent with a proven track record. But Israel remains undeterred in his pursuit of victory.
With his unparalleled striking skills and lightning-fast reflexes, Adesanya is poised to put on a spectacular performance and cement his legacy as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
“I’m the one coming in to take this guy out. Like I’ve said, f–k the belt, I’m coming to take this guy out. That’s my only goal,” Adesanya said. “Everything I’m doing is on this guy. I’m gonna get this guy out of there.”
In October 2019, Israel Adesanya, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, achieved a remarkable feat by unifying the middleweight title at UFC 243. He dominated the former champion, Robert Whittaker, in Melbourne, Australia, and emerged victorious with a stunning finish.
Adesanya’s success didn’t stop there, as he went on to defend his title five times against some of the toughest opponents in the division.
Whittaker, Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, and Jared Cannonier all stepped up to challenge Adesanya. But none were able to dethrone him.
Israel’s only stain on his perfect record
Adesanya’s reign as the middleweight champion was characterized by his outstanding striking ability, unparalleled agility, and unmatched mental toughness. He has shown time and again that he is a beast in the octagon. And his dominance over the division was nothing short of extraordinary.
Adesanya (23-2) suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Pereira in November, ending his bid for another successful title defense. Pereira has now defeated Israel three times in combat sports. Including two wins in kickboxing and their recent UFC bout.
Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, 35-year-old Pereira boasts an impressive 7-1 record in MMA, with an undefeated streak in the UFC. His notable victories include wins over Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Bruno Silva, and Andreas Michailidis, among others.
At UFC 287, Alex will defend his 185-pound title for the first time, marking a significant milestone in his career.
“The Last Stylebender” is now on a mission to prove the critics wrong by being the first man to knock out Pereira in MMA.
“I’m telling you. I’m putting everything into this fight. Nothing else matters. I just wanna crack this patience until I get to the point where it’s like, ‘Unleash me!’ I can’t wait,” Adesanya said.
The Miami-Dade Arena in Florida is the chosen venue for the upcoming UFC 287.
