Israel Adesanya’s seemingly impregnable defense of the UFC middleweight title has come to an end. He was winning in the final round of his UFC 281 headliner against Alex Pereira when Pereira unleashed a brutal combination of punches that finished Adesanya on his feet. At the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked about the prospect of an immediate rematch for the dethroned champ.
“I wouldn’t rule it out.” White explained that Israel Adesanya’s legendary run through the middleweight division is the main reason he would be first in line for a title shot against Pereira.
Dana White Open to Immediate Adesanya vs Pereira Rematch
“You’ve got to show Israel [respect]. First of all, I was saying that this week and it’s the absolute truth, Israel Adesanya didn’t flinch about taking this fight. He likes to fight all the time. He took this fight. He wanted this fight. A lot of people talk publicly and it’s a whole different story behind the scenes. That guy’s an absolute stud. Always wants to stay active and a fight that most guys would stall, give me more time, this, that. He dove right into this fight.
His only loss was when he tried to move up in weight to 205. You’ve got to respect him as a champ and what he’s done.”
Famously, Adesanya had lost to Pereira twice back when the pair were fighting for Glory kickboxing. Walking into Saturday’s bout, Adesanya seemed confident and calm.
“Israel was absolutely confident going into this fight, too. Never once did he look like he was scared of this guy or worried about it. He was picking him apart.
I think going into that fourth round, if he was a little bit more aggressive in that fourth round, who knows what could have happened. But when you start getting into the fourth, you’re winning the fight and then you get to the fifth and basically all you’ve got to do is stay away from him in the fifth and you’re winning the fight. Sometimes that strategy doesn’t work out.”
Now, Adesanya is 3-0 against Pereira, and has endured the first middleweight loss of his MMA career. Whether Adesanya chooses to face Pereira again or try his luck once more at light heavyweight, as the former champ has been threatening to do for years, remains to be seen.
Do you think Adesanya vs Pereira 2 should happen immediately, or should another elite middleweight take on “Poatan”? Let us know in the comments.
