Israel Adesanya achieved a long-awaited victory against his rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287, regaining the UFC middleweight championship. Adesanya expressed that this was one of the happiest moments of his life.
The rivalry between the two fighters has lasted for over seven years and has spanned two sports. Before UFC 287, Pereira had already won against Adesanya three times, twice in kickboxing and once in MMA. Pereira had taken the middleweight title from Adesanya at UFC 281, becoming the new champion of the division.
Just champ things!@Stylebender 🤝 @TheAssassinBaby backstage after #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/Vh0jOOs91A
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
MMA Rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira Make Peace in Incredible Encounter
At UFC 287, Israel Adesanya came into the fight with a new mindset as “the hunter,” stating that he only needed one win over Alex Pereira to settle the score. Despite facing a barrage of attacks from Pereira, Adesanya stayed composed and landed a powerful straight right hand in the second round that stunned the Brazilian. He then capitalized on the opportunity and delivered a final, decisive blow that knocked Pereira out cold, securing his victory and reclaiming the UFC middleweight championship.
When two fighters engage in a fierce rivalry, it is not uncommon for it to transform into a deep respect and admiration for each other. Their competitive spirit may lead to a mutual appreciation of each other’s abilities and achievements.
Through their pursuit of greatness, adversaries can recognize and acknowledge each other’s strengths and weaknesses, ultimately creating a strong bond. This was evident when Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira encountered each other backstage at UFC 287.
After the fight, Adesanya expressed gratitude towards Pereira for pushing him to be his best and said that he wants to visit Brazil again and spend time with ‘Poatan’. Adesanya also praised Pereira as a true champion, displaying a beautiful demonstration of mutual respect between the two fighters.
To see the action for yourself, check out the video below:
Stylebender and Poatan exchange words after their latest battle 🤝
There is no sport like Mixed Martial Arts. #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/qo57Azkfbs
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
