Israel Adesanya was fairly pumped to see his former rival reclaim the sunshine heavyweight title.
This previous Saturday, Alex Pereira gained again the sunshine heavyweight title by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev of their rematch at UFC 320. Pereira misplaced a tepid determination to Ankalaev of their first struggle earlier this yr, however at UFC 320 got here out wanting like a person possessed, rolling by way of Ankalaev in lower than 90 seconds. On Sunday, Adesanya uploaded his real-time response to Pereira’s upset victory.
”Chama!” Adesanya mentioned as he watched the struggle. “The best way he went at him right away, you may see. And when Ankalaev switched [stances], it was like, OK, he’s on. Dang. Again to it. Two-time gentle heavyweight champ!”
Adesanya has a protracted historical past with Pereira throughout a number of sports activities. The 2 initially met in kickboxing, the place “Poatan” holds two wins over “The Final Stylebender.” After Adesanya made such a profitable transition to MMA, Pereira adopted go well with, and the UFC shortly constructed Pereira as much as a title struggle in opposition to Adesanya in MMA, which Pereira gained by fifth-round TKO. The 2 rematched with Adesanya, lastly defeating Pereira for the primary time, placing him to sleep with the 2023 Knockout of the 12 months.
After that, Pereira moved as much as gentle heavyweight, the place he went on to win the title and defend it thrice earlier than dropping the belt to Ankalaev. Additionally since then, Pereira and Adesanya have put their rivalry behind them, and as such, Adesanya had no qualms about exhibiting his respect for Poatan’s efficiency.
“As soon as Ankalaev went orthodox, I knew it was a wrap,” Adesanya mentioned. “I felt it was a wrap. Since you’re giving him the leg he likes. Which means his proper leg was compromised from the within leg kicks already.
“He got here out smoke, and right away attacked him, put him behind the black line, after which attacked the entrance leg. He didn’t within the final struggle as a result of somebody mentioned he was compromised and his foot or his leg was damage. However two or three, after which Ankalaev switched and … that’s all she wrote. Knockout by the champ!”
However simply because Adesanya and Pereira have set their rivalry apart, that doesn’t fairly make them buddies. And together with his teammate Carlos Ulberg at present positioned because the presumptive No. 1 contender at gentle heavyweight, Adesanya is hoping that’s subsequent up for his previous foe.
“I believe that might be a very good struggle,” Adesanya mentioned a couple of potential Pereira vs. Ulberg matchup. “There’s a parallel. In that struggle, all [Carlos] has to be careful for is a leg kick. His eyes are good, and he’ll catch him. As a result of Pereira, typically his reactions are too gradual. However that leg kick, if he will get it, it’s going to be an issue. Then he’ll decelerate [Carlos]. However we’ll see.”
It’s unclear if Ulberg can be subsequent for Poatan. After the struggle, Pereira lobbied for a heavyweight superfight with Jon Jones, although he did counsel he doesn’t want to vacate his belt in the mean time, and is open to going through whoever the UFC decides is most deserving.
Superfight. Alex Pereira needs a superfight with Jon Jones at UFC White Home.
Or not. Dana White explains why he’s hesitant to permit Alex Pereira to struggle at heavyweight.
Stardom. ‘Perhaps it did break me’: Conor McGregor admits superstardom overwhelmed him at instances throughout profession peak.
Assertion. Magomed Ankalaev releases his first assertion since his knockout loss to Alex Pereira.
Bantamweight. Merab Dvalishvili has no plans to chase a second UFC title: ‘That is my division.’
Comfortable. Jiri Prochazka was blissful to see Alex Pereira win at UFC 320 due to Magomed Ankalaev’s ‘bullsh*t.’
Defeat. ‘I can’t be upset’: Patchy Combine releases first assertion after UFC 320 loss to Jakub Wiklacz.
UFC 320 Press Convention.
Alex Pereira ultimate struggle week vlog.
Max Holloway reacts to UFC 320.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Not solely did Pereira reclaim the title, it was the best struggle of his profession. Extremely spectacular stuff, and a brutal beat for Ankalaev.
Alex vs. Jon Jones on the UFC White Home struggle card. Alex can vacate the title, and so they can struggle for the GOAT belt or some shit. However that’s the struggle. Nothing else comes shut. After that, then Pereira can take into consideration Aspinall and heavyweight or no matter. However do the massive enterprise first.
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