This weekend, all eyes will be on the much-anticipated rematch between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira at UFC 287 for the middleweight title. In November, Adesanya ”The Last Stylebender” was shocked to lose his title to Pereira at UFC 281. He is looking to regain it.
With both fighters eager to prove their dominance in the octagon, Adesanya took to Twitter with a cryptic message that has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about his concerns heading into the fight.
Adesanya’s Concerns: The Last Stylebender Asks USADA to Be on Alert
As the rematch draws near, Adesanya has expressed his desire for stringent monitoring by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). In a super perplexing tweet, he noted, “USADA, monitor us from the moment we get off the scale till we hit the arena on Saturday. Have people take shifts if they have to…no loopholes to jump here.” Despite not explicitly mentioning his concerns, it’s possible Adesanya is referring to IV use, which is prohibited if the dose exceeds 100 milliliters in a 12-hour period.
This request comes in the wake of similar allegations made by other fighters, such as Dan Hooker against Islam Makhachev after his UFC 284 win over Alexander Volkanovski. Adesanya’s call for strict monitoring reflects his determination to ensure a fair and level playing field leading up to the fight, and highlights the importance of anti-doping measures in combat sports.
Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira: A Rivalry Renewed: The Last Stylebender’s Last Shot at Redemption
For Adesanya, this rematch is not just about regaining his title, but also about avenging his losses to Pereira. The Brazilian fighter has been somewhat of a kryptonite for Adesanya, with two wins over him in GLORY kickboxing, including a devastating knockout in 2017. Despite Adesanya’s success in transitioning to MMA and becoming a UFC champion, Pereira dealt him a major setback last November by dethroning him in a last-round upset.
Pereira, known as “Poatan,” believes that Adesanya is making a mistake by seeking an immediate rematch. He expressed his opinion during the UFC 287 media day, stating, “If he was on my team, I would tell him, ‘Man, don’t do this fight now.’ He’s had a brilliant career but he saw there was no success against me, so I would advise him against doing this fight now. Fight once or twice, and then come back and try again.”
With tensions running high and a history of rivalry between the two fighters, the stage is set for an epic showdown at UFC 287.
