Israel Adesanya, the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion, has had an impressive career inside the octagon. However, there’s one opponent who has consistently given him trouble: Alex Pereira. In a recent interview, Adesanya opened up about his losses to Pereira and shared his thoughts on their trilogy of fights.
The First Fight: Controversy in China
Adesanya’s first encounter with Pereira took place in China. The fight was closely contested, and both fighters believed they had done enough to secure the victory. Adesanya recalls, “I thought I won. Even [Alex] thought I won until he got his hand raised.” The judges’ decision went in favor of Pereira, leaving Adesanya frustrated and eager for a rematch.
Israel Adesanya talks about his losses to Alex Pereira:
“First fight in China, I thought I won. Even [Alex] thought I won until he got his hand raised. Second fight, I’m beating his a** and he gets me.
Again, [third fight] in New York, beating that, rocked him, took him down,… pic.twitter.com/ii7nxVtvHY
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 23, 2024
The Second Fight: A Bitter Defeat
In their second bout, Israel Adesanya was confident that he would come out on top. “I’m beating his a**,” he says, “and he gets me.” Pereira’s striking power proved to be a game-changer, and Adesanya suffered a knockout loss. The defeat fueled Adesanya’s determination to prove himself against his rival.
The Third Fight: New York Showdown
Their third and most recent fight took place in New York. Israel Adesanya was dominating Pereira, rocking him with precise strikes and even taking him down. However, fate had other plans. “He gets me,” Adesanya laments. The same referee, Marc Goddard, oversaw the fight – a fact that Adesanya acknowledges with a hint of frustration. “Let Jamahal Hill almost kill Glover [Teixeira],” he adds, referring to another controversial moment in a different fight.
Israel Adesanya’s Resilience
Despite the setbacks, Adesanya remains resilient. He refuses to dwell on the losses, emphasizing that he was “fine” after the fights. His competitive spirit drives him forward, and he’s determined to settle the score with Pereira once and for all.
As fans eagerly await a potential fourth fight between these two warriors, one thing is certain: Israel Adesanya’s journey is far from over. Whether he can overcome the enigma that is Alex Pereira remains to be seen, but the fire in his eyes suggests that he won’t back down easily.
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