Israel Adesanya has predicted that he would make his fight with Alex Pereira a horror movie.
Reigning UFC middleweight champion Adesanya is set to clash with longtime foe Pereira in the headlining bout of UFC 281 on Nov. 12 in the promotion’s grand return to Madison Square Garden after a three-year hiatus. He goes into the bout off a lackluster yet lopsided decision win over Jared Cannonier in his last outing in July at UFC 276. Adesanya will have the opportunity to avenge his two losses to Pereira, which happened in kickboxing, including a vicious left hook knockout.
Israel Adesanya wants to make his fight with Alex Pereira a ‘horror movie’
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Israel Adesanya shared his breakdown of the nearing contest with Pereira. He made a bold prediction stating he would make it like a ‘horror movie’ for his opponent.
“I want to make this a horror movie. I’m going to keep that theme and make this a horror movie. I want to be the first person he sees when he wakes up. I want to make sure I’m right in his line of sight so when he wakes up, he’s looking at me, and then the ref. I’m going to be the first person he sees and that’s how I see this fight going.”
Adesanya believes the exciting thing about the fight is that both athletes could knock each other out.
“This fight, I’m focused and excited for it because this guy is going to try and win. He’s beaten me already. That’s the reality of the matter. The fact that I already know this has happened in my reality but he knows what I can do to him as well without a referee to save his a**. That’s the exciting thing about this fight, we will find out whether I’m going to get knocked out or if he’s going to get knocked out? That’s the exciting thing.”
Adesanya says kickboxing is different than MMA
‘Stylebender’ talked about not taking too much from his previous encounters. He argued that the sport of kickboxing is inherently different than MMA and backed himself to get a different outcome this time around.
“The way you defend is different, the way you attack is different. It’s kinda stupid sometimes. No disrespect to kickboxing. But I feel like they fight aggression with aggression and that’s not always the best way to fight. I’m too calculated and smart for that. I always felt my striking was better suited for MMA, for the glove size but also the way, the freeness of attacking, I can clinch someone and trip them down. I can elbow, things like that. I know he’s good at stuff like that but I’ve been doing this a lot longer.”
Israel Adesanya is currently undefeated at 185 pounds, with the only blemish on his record coming against former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in an unsuccessful bid to achieve double-champ status. He will look to add another title defense under his belt and get redemption versus an opponent who has beaten him more than once in the past.
