Alex Pereira has words of respect for Israel Adesanya ahead of his longtime rival’s pivotal UFC Seattle main event bout.
On Saturday, Adesanya—still holding on to the No. 7 spot at 185 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings—competes for the first time in over a year as he looks to snap a career-worst three-fight skid when he fights Joe Pyfer. The two-time UFC middleweight champion is a slight favorite over Pyfer so an upset loss would raise serious questions about Adesanya’s future. Adesanya turns 37 in July and has been competing in professional combat sports since 2010. Time is running out for “The Last Stylebender” to turn things around.
Pereira took a moment on social media to pay respects to Adesanya and credit him for helping him to take his own career to another level.
“Saturday is fight night once again,” Pereira wrote on Instagram. “Much respect to Israel Adesanya — we’ve shared the octagon and moments that became part of my journey. That loss taught me a lot; it pushed me to evolve not only as a fighter, but as a man. I grew, matured, and used it as fuel to reach a higher level in the sport and in life.”
The Adesanya vs. Pereira rivalry stretches back a decade to when the two were in the middle of standout kickboxing careers. In their first fight in 2016, Pereira narrowly won a decision over Adesanya and when they meet in a rematch in 2017, Adesanya appeared to be on his way to avenging a loss on the scorecards when Pereira leveled him with a devastating knockout punch in the third round.
“Poatan” eventually made his way to the UFC and again challenged Adesanya, this time for the middleweight title at UFC 281 in 2022. In just his eighth MMA bout, Pereira scored a TKO over Adesanya in the fifth round to become champion. Adesanya finally earned a win in the series when he knocked Pereira out cold in their immediate rematch at UFC 287, but their careers have gone in opposite directions since.
Pereira made an expected move to light heavyweight where he went on to win two more UFC titles and record three high-profile championship defenses, while Adesanya is yet to have his hand raised since the last Pereira fight. No matter what happens Saturday, Pereira hopes to see Adesanya at his best.
“Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there — the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice,” Pereira wrote. “That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best.
“We keep evolving. See you at the top CHAMA”
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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The definitive fight week schedule.
Junior dos Santos (23-10) vs. Robelis Despaigne (5-2); MMA MVP: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
Muhammad Mokaev (16-0, 1 NC) vs. Adriano Moraes (21-6); MMA MVP: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
Salahdine Parnasse (22-2) vs. Kenneth Cross (17-4); MMA MVP: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
Lorenz Larkin (27-8, 2 NC) vs. Jason Jackson (19-6); MMA MVP: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
Aline Pereira (2-2) vs. Jade Masson-Wong (3-2); MMA MVP: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
David Mgoyan (8-1) vs. Albert Morales (19-10-1); MMA MVP: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
Namo Fazil (9-1) vs. Jake Babian (6-1); MMA MVP: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16
Kyoji Horiguchi (36-5, 1 NC) vs. Manel Kape (22-7); UFC Vegas 119, June 20
Raise your hand, how many of you forgot Israel Adesanya was fighting this weekend? No? Just me? Hey, I was on vacation this past weekend, leave me alone.
Anyway, Adesanya vs. Pyfer, UFC Seattle. GET HYPE.
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