“You’re 0 for 3”: Fans ridicule Israel Adesanya for declaring to be ‘more polished’ than arch nemesis Alex Pereira

The conflict between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira can be traced back to their kickboxing era. Throughout their fighting careers, they have squared off against each other on three separate occasions.

Despite this, Pereira has emerged victorious in all three bouts. Nevertheless, Adesanya gained widespread acknowledgment and prominence when he made the move to MMA and captured the UFC middleweight title in 2019.

Israel Adesanya

Anticipation was high for the initial MMA showdown between the two at UFC 281. Israel and Alex are widely recognized as two of the finest strikers in the UFC.

Despite this, in the third round, Pereira landed an unforeseen TKO, becoming the first middleweight fighter to defeat Adesanya in MMA. The outcome stunned many, and now Israel is seeking retribution in their upcoming bout at UFC 287.

Israel Adesanya is surprised to find himself as the favored competitor

Although Pereira has triumphed over Adesanya in their prior bouts, Israel is the favored fighter for their upcoming rematch. Nonetheless, Adesanya has revealed his astonishment at being the preferred contender and has recognized Alex’s destructive knockout capability as a significant danger.

Israel Adesanya

“I am surprised they actually picked me as a favorite because I am the more polished fighter, but he is just the guy that’s got the tools. He’s got that nuke. Only a few fighters in history have got that.” 

The response from fans to Adesanya’s remark has been mixed. Several admirers have commended him for his candor and willingness to recognize Pereira’s potential threat.

On the other hand, some have condemned Israel for being outstruck by Alex in their previous encounter.

Adesanya vs Pereira: Old rivalry still continues

Adesanya was the predicted favorite in the main event at UFC 281. In the first round, ‘The Last Stylebender’ controlled the fight and nearly knocked out Alex Pereira.

Alex Pereira

Nonetheless, Alex staged a recovery in the second round, connecting with some exceptional strikes. Later on, Israel regained control and was awarded the third round by all three judges.

In the fourth round, Pereira demonstrated some extraordinary techniques. Nevertheless, according to the official scorecard, Adesanya still emerged victorious in that round.

However, in the fifth and final round, ‘Poatan’ concluded the fight by unleashing a potent sequence of punches on Israel, resulting in a TKO.

Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya succumbed to defeat against Alex Pereira at UFC 281

Regardless of fans’ opinions, it is evident that the forthcoming rematch between Adesanya and Pereira will be an enthralling and closely fought bout. Both fighters are top-tier strikers with well-established histories, and their styles are evenly matched.

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Sami Haider

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Sami Haider is a UFC/boxing journalist who connects combat sports to pop culture. His deep passion for the UFC started in 2018, triggered by the UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor fight. He is a passionate writer who has a profound love for the sport and the skills that are used in it. Through his work, Sami aspires to connect combat sportsmen and their enthusiastic fans.

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