Alex Pereira, the former middleweight and current light heavyweight champion, has a notable rivalry with Israel Adesanya in the UFC. Their rivalry dates back to their kickboxing days in Glory, where they competed.
Even after transitioning to the UFC, their feud continued, leading to an anticipated clash between the fighters. Now, let’s delve into Pereira’s victory over Adesanya.
Head-to-Head: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya
The rivalry between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya extends beyond their kickboxing days in Glory. They have faced each other four times – twice in Glory of Heroes and twice in the UFC.
In their first encounter at Glory of Heroes 1 in 2016, Pereira emerged victorious, winning unanimously. The following year, at Glory of Heroes 7, Pereira delivered a devastating left hook knockout in the third round, securing another win against Adesanya.
Their rivalry transitioned to the UFC, with their first clash at UFC 281. Pereira claimed victory in this middleweight bout, defeating Adesanya via technical knockout in the fifth round and capturing the UFC middleweight title.
However, Adesanya sought redemption and a chance to reclaim his title. Their second UFC showdown occurred at UFC 287, where Adesanya emerged triumphant, winning by knockout and becoming the new UFC middleweight champion.
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Pereira holds a 3-1 advantage over Adesanya, marking a longstanding rivalry spanning kickboxing and MMA. Pereira initially bested Adesanya twice in kickboxing before transitioning to the UFC, where he claimed Adesanya’s middleweight title.
However, Adesanya reclaimed the belt in 2023, only to lose it to Sean Strickland soon after. Pereira currently reigns as the UFC’s light heavyweight champion following a knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka in November. He is set to defend his title against former UFC champion Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 300 on April 13.
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