Adesanya and Pereira Reignite Rivalry After UFC 295: A Clash of Titans Looms

At UFC 295, held at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York, Alex Pereira claimed the light heavyweight championship, defeating Jiri Prochazka with a series of powerful punches and elbows in the second round. Pereira, now a titleholder in both the 185-pound and 205-pound divisions, used his victory speech to challenge his rival, former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

Pereira reminisced about Adesanya’s past words, which he credits for his motivation to excel in MMA and ultimately clinch the UFC title. Adesanya, in turn, humorously responded to Pereira’s callout with a reference to the movie “Frozen,” showcasing their ongoing banter.

Israel Adesanya, following a recent decision loss to Sean Strickland and a break from the sport, seems less than eager for an immediate return. However, Pereira’s recent win and the history between these two fighters have ignited speculation about a potential high-stakes rematch. Pereira first claimed the UFC middleweight title with a fifth-round TKO of Adesanya at UFC 281, before being knocked out in the second round of their UFC 287 rematch.

The rivalry between Pereira and Adesanya extends beyond UFC, having met twice in kickboxing, with Pereira winning both encounters, including a dramatic knockout in 2017. Pereira’s dual-title achievement in the UFC and his success in GLORY, where he is now a Hall of Famer, sets the stage for a compelling narrative should these two fighters meet again.

In response to Adesanya’s playful jabs, Pereira, via a translator, expressed respect and a willingness to give Adesanya a chance at redemption. The potential matchup promises to be a crowd-pleaser, with both fighters having a storied history and compelling reasons to prove their dominance in the octagon.

Let it gooooo 🎶 pic.twitter.com/gv9ZYliKwH

— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) November 12, 2023