Discover the intense rivalry between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, spanning kickboxing and the UFC. Read about their epic battles and the controversy surrounding their matches.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Kickboxing Match 1 | Pereira defeated Adesanya by decision |
| Kickboxing Match 2 | Pereira knocked out Adesanya |
| UFC 281 | Pereira defeated Adesanya by TKO |
| UFC 287 | Adesanya knocked out Pereira |
Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya have a long-standing history of intense competition. Their rivalry spans across kickboxing and the UFC, with four epic battles between them. Pereira has emerged victorious in three out of the four matches, establishing himself as a formidable opponent for ‘The Last Stylebender.’
Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya have a long-standing history of intense competition. Their rivalry spans across kickboxing and the UFC, with four epic battles between them. Pereira has emerged victorious in three out of the four matches, establishing himself as a formidable opponent for ‘The Last Stylebender.’
In their first kickboxing encounter, Pereira secured a controversial decision win over Adesanya. The outcome sparked a heated debate, with Adesanya and Daniel Cormier questioning the judges’ call. This led to a highly-anticipated rematch, where Pereira showcased his dominance by knocking out Adesanya.
The rivalry spilled over into the UFC, where Pereira claimed the middleweight championship by defeating Adesanya at UFC 281. However, Adesanya sought redemption and avenged his loss in a rematch at UFC 287, delivering a devastating knockout blow to Pereira.
Interestingly, it was Adesanya’s success in the UFC that inspired Pereira to transition into mixed martial arts. After hearing an Adesanya interview, Pereira made the decision to train in MMA, eager to prove his worth in a new discipline. In an Instagram post, Pereira expressed his respect for Adesanya and even expressed his willingness to train with him in the future.
Following the loss to Adesanya in the rematch, Pereira made a bold move by moving up to the light heavyweight division. He quickly made his mark by dethroning former champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295, claiming the light heavyweight championship.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Adesanya has seen Pereira’s Instagram post or if he would be open to training with his fierce rival. Adesanya is currently taking a break from fighting after his defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Kickboxing Match 1 | Pereira defeated Adesanya by decision |
| Kickboxing Match 2 | Pereira knocked out Adesanya |
| UFC 281 | Pereira defeated Adesanya by TKO |
| UFC 287 | Adesanya knocked out Pereira |
