Israel Adesanya was pretty pumped to see his former rival reclaim the light heavyweight title.
This past Saturday, Alex Pereira won back the light heavyweight title by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in their rematch at UFC 320. Pereira lost a tepid decision to Ankalaev in their first fight earlier this year, but at UFC 320 came out looking like a man possessed, rolling through Ankalaev in less than 90 seconds. On Sunday, Adesanya uploaded his real-time reaction to Pereira’s upset victory.
”Chama!” Adesanya said as he watched the fight. “The way he went at him straight away, you could see. And when Ankalaev switched [stances], it was like, OK, he’s on. Dang. Back to it. Two-time light heavyweight champ!”
Adesanya has a long history with Pereira across multiple sports. The two initially met in kickboxing, where “Poatan” holds two wins over “The Last Stylebender.” After Adesanya made such a successful transition to MMA, Pereira followed suit, and the UFC quickly built Pereira up to a title fight against Adesanya in MMA, which Pereira won by fifth-round TKO. The two rematched with Adesanya, finally defeating Pereira for the first time, putting him to sleep with the 2023 Knockout of the Year.
After that, Pereira moved up to light heavyweight, where he went on to win the title and defend it three times before losing the belt to Ankalaev. Also since then, Pereira and Adesanya have put their rivalry behind them, and as such, Adesanya had no qualms about showing his respect for Poatan’s performance.
“Once Ankalaev went orthodox, I knew it was a wrap,” Adesanya said. “I felt it was a wrap. Because you’re giving him the leg he likes. That means his right leg was compromised from the inside leg kicks already.
“He came out smoke, and straight away attacked him, put him behind the black line, and then attacked the front leg. He didn’t in the last fight because someone said he was compromised and his foot or his leg was hurt. But two or three, and then Ankalaev switched and … that’s all she wrote. Knockout by the champ!”
But just because Adesanya and Pereira have set their rivalry aside, that doesn’t quite make them friends. And with his teammate Carlos Ulberg currently positioned as the presumptive No. 1 contender at light heavyweight, Adesanya is hoping that’s next up for his old foe.
“I think that would be a good fight,” Adesanya said about a potential Pereira vs. Ulberg matchup. “There’s a parallel. In that fight, all [Carlos] has to watch out for is a leg kick. His eyes are good, and he’ll catch him. Because Pereira, sometimes his reactions are too slow. But that leg kick, if he gets it, it’s going to be a problem. Then he’ll slow down [Carlos]. But we’ll see.”
It’s unclear if Ulberg will be next for Poatan. After the fight, Pereira lobbied for a heavyweight superfight with Jon Jones, though he did suggest he does not wish to vacate his belt at the moment, and is open to facing whoever the UFC decides is most deserving.
Superfight. Alex Pereira wants a superfight with Jon Jones at UFC White House.
Or not. Dana White explains why he’s hesitant to allow Alex Pereira to fight at heavyweight.
Stardom. ‘Maybe it did break me’: Conor McGregor admits superstardom overwhelmed him at times during career peak.
Statement. Magomed Ankalaev releases his first statement since his knockout loss to Alex Pereira.
Bantamweight. Merab Dvalishvili has no plans to chase a second UFC title: ‘This is my division.’
Happy. Jiri Prochazka was happy to see Alex Pereira win at UFC 320 because of Magomed Ankalaev’s ‘bullsh*t.’
Defeat. ‘I can’t be upset’: Patchy Mix releases first statement after UFC 320 loss to Jakub Wiklacz.
UFC 320 Press Conference.
Alex Pereira final fight week vlog.
Max Holloway reacts to UFC 320.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Not only did Pereira reclaim the title, it was the easiest fight of his career. Incredibly impressive stuff, and a brutal beat for Ankalaev.
Alex vs. Jon Jones at the UFC White House fight card. Alex can vacate the title, and they can fight for the GOAT belt or some shit. But that’s the fight. Nothing else comes close. After that, then Pereira can think about Aspinall and heavyweight or whatever. But do the big business first.
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