UFC middleweight champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya acknowledges that his UFC 281 opponent, Alex Pereira, has “bragging rights” thanks to his twin kickboxing victories in their last two meetings. This time, he says, it will be different, and Adesanya has no plans to lose his 185-pound title. Adesanya discussed his game plan for UFC 281 on The MMA Hour. Pereira has spent much of his time in the UFC mocking Adesanya, which “Stylebender” is happy to take on the chin.
““It is [business], but it’s personal. This is about me and my legacy. This is about rewriting history. Even though it is history and I never chased this, this is about me rewriting a new path of history and just showing people what I can really do because, again, y’all must’ve forgot. They forget, they always forget. It’s because of this Tik Tok era, the attention span is so quick, they move on so fast.
Adesanya Acknowledges Pereira “Bragging Rights” But Knows “Something He Doesn’t” Ahead of UFC 281
So this is personal. For me, I’ve said less, he can do all the tennis ball videos and f****** hoverboard things he wants, but for me I’m just like, ‘Cool. You do you.’ He has bragging rights, so let him do that, but when it’s time I know something he doesn’t. I can’t tell you.”
Adesanya continued, pointing out that their story, where Pereira seemingly chased Adesanya out of GLORY kickboxing with two consecutive victories, is what has propelled “Poatan” to title contention so quickly.
“Without me, he wouldn’t be here. Without me, he would have been exposed a long time ago. Without me… I cleared the way. I cleared the division first of all so there’s not really anyone else to fight. I cleared the way for him to get to the top.”
“The Last Stylebender” acknowledged that although he was winning the fight last time he faced Pereira, he let himself slip out of the style that had earned him so much success over the years, and was punished for it with a brutal knockout loss. It’s a mistake he won’t repeat this time around.
“I didn’t stay true to my style. I was younger and I just let myself get influenced by outside noises and I didn’t stay true to my style. I know me. When I hurt someone—even [my brother] David was saying, ‘You know how to break people down’ and when I’m watching fights I’m like, ‘Why are you headhunting? Why are you headhunting?’
I was headhunting, I was only using my right hand, that’s the stupidest thing I could have done. So I didn’t stay true to my style and it cost me. That bothered me way more than a knockout. I’m excited for this one for different reasons. I know something you don’t. F*** him.”
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