Michael Bisping thinks this is Israel Adesanya’s last chance to beat Alex Pereira.
There is a massive middleweight title fight coming up next weekend that could have profound effects on both men’s legacies. Champion Alex Pereira will be making his first title defense when he takes on Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 in Miami. These two athletes have a long history with each other. This will be the fourth meeting between them, with Pereira winning all so far. The last time they met was in the UFC Octagon when Pereira won the belt after a fifth-round TKO over Adesanya.
This rematch had a lot riding on it. Adesanya is looking to regain his belt and finally get the win over Pereira. The former fighter turned commentator Michael Bisping thinks that later is weighing more on Adesanya in the lead-up.
Michael Bisping thinks Israel Adesanya has pressure to finally defeat Alex Pereira
Recently Adesanya spoke on his YouTube channel and expressed a feeling of this being his “Last shot.” Bisping dove into this on his channel and discussed the meaning behind the comment.
“There is a lot riding on it. You know there’s legacy for Israel Adesanya. I think when he says this is my last shot, I think he means, not his last shot at ever being the champ again or his last shot at being a UFC superstar. This is his last shot at beating Alex Pereira, who has been the bogeyman of his career, he has been the kryptonite,” he said. “This will be his fourth time. Do you know what I mean? You lose four times in a row, you lose two times in a row in the UFC as well. You’re not gonna get that third shot, the rubber match, you have to win one apiece.”
Bisping thinks the pressure of beating Pereira is more than winning back the belt. The main reason Pereira had such a fast rise in the UFC and fought for a title in just his eighth MMA bout was because of the history with Adesanya. This win would mean a lot for Adesanya.
“There is pressure on him, but I don’t think he’s putting pressure on himself not to disagree just to have a conversation. I think he understands that if he doesn’t be Pereira this time,” he said. “When you fight someone you want to win, you want to be the victor, you want to proceed up the rankings, you want to get your paycheck and all the rest of it. But man to man I want you to know that I can beat you and I’m the better fighter and I always will be. This is his last shot of getting to change the narrative that Alex Pereira is by far a better striker and a better fighter than Israel Adesanya.”
Pereira and Adesanya will meet up in the main event of the UFC 287 card. The event will go down on April 8 live from the Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida.
