The UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, is happy to have a new challenger at UFC 281. Admittedly, he has fought – and lost to – Alex Pereira twice, but that was back at GLORY kickboxing. Mostly, “The Last Stylebender” was none too enthused at the prospect of “having to lap the division again” after cleaning out all the top contenders at 185 pounds. Adesanya discussed his ascent, his legacy, and the UFC 281 main event at the pre-fight media day.
“I was making things look too easy. Even I was getting bored with it, having to lap the division again. For me, I set the way. I lay the table out. The UFC know what they’re doing.
Adesanya: “One Dimensional” Pereira Simply “Not as Smart as He Is”
They brought him up right. They gave him the right fights. I don’t think he fought a wrestler. He beat one top five guy. I fought a top 10 guy in my f****** third fight in the UFC and I’ve just headlined since and stole the show.
So my run is different. I appreciate my run because of the way I did it. Let him enjoy his time right now. Let him enjoy his 15 minutes.” Adesanya continued, predicting a return to light heavyweight after the Pereira fight.
“I’ll lap the division again and I’ll go back up [to 205 pounds] at some point. Just for my own, maybe a little bit of ego, but just because I can do it.
I see 205 n***** walking around and everyone that sees me, first thing they say ‘you’re so much bigger.’ It is what it is.” Adesanya claimed that the secret to his success is sticking to his own style and strengths and ignoring the rest of the noise.
“There’s a lot in this game. For me, it’s doing what I’m doing. Beating everyone up in my way. I never really chased these accolades or these records or whatever. I just put a guy in front of me, we knock them down. Everything else follows. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I’ve always said [the UFC title] is a fancy tiara you wear.
All I wanted to do was beat the best in the world and I’ve been doing that. This came, the money came, everybody came.”
Do you think Israel Adesanya will get the job done against Alex Pereira this weekend and “lap the division again”, or will we see a new middleweight champion crowned? Let us know in the comments.
