- Eugene Baremen said Israel Adesanya has been extra driven as he prepares for his rematch with Alex Pereira at UFC 287
- The coach also noted they are excited to get in there and run it back
In less than a month from now, Israel Adesanya will have the chance to reclaim his UFC middleweight title from Alex Pereira at UFC 287. His coach Eugene Bareman has yet to reveal their new strategy for the rematch but divulged that Izzy has evidently been extra motivated this time.
Mentally tough
Speaking to Combat TV, Bareman said the team is well aware of what is at stake at UFC 287 and they are in the process of making certain adjustments. They are not being too confident but every step of the way has been good for Adesanya and the team mentally.
“I mean progress is where it should be. I’m not going to say we’re ahead but I’m not going to say we’re behind either and I don’t know, it’s exciting. It’s exciting and the reason it’s exciting is because a fight like this, with so much on the line and against a such a dangerous opponent, it just puts you on the edge all the time but it’s also exciting in the fact that there’s some things that we have to do, there’s some things that we have to, manipulate and change that invigorate us as a team of coaches and a team and also Israel,” Bareman said.
He continued, “There’s some stuff that he needs to do, to tweak, and refine, a couple things he has to add, to change the outcome of this match and that’s exciting for us.”
This is what we do
Bareman concluded that despite being the challenger this time around, Izzy and his team is not pressured heading into the rematch. In fact, they can’t wait for it already.
“These sort of challenges… this is what we do like this is what we live for we really live for all we do is live for big fights… it’s the pinnacle… we were made for this is… we’re not like shying away this is something that excites us and something that we can’t wait to delve into and get into.”
Adesanya is coming in winless against Pereira, twice in kickboxing and once in MMA. Nevertheless, “The Last Stylebender” isn’t bothered as he insists he only needs one win to settle the score.
Pereira, meanwhile, welcomed the rematch with open arms but also has his sights on a move to light heavyweight to face Jamahal Hill should the Adesanya match falls apart.
