Israel Adesanya Open To Trilogy Bout With Alex Pereira if He Becomes Light Heavyweight Champion

Photo: Instagram/Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have a storied rivalry, and while another fight between the two seems unlikely at the moment, Adesanya has expressed his willingness to engage in an MMA trilogy bout if Pereira becomes the champion in his new weight division.

Adesanya emerged victorious in their most recent encounter at UFC 287, finally overcoming Pereira after suffering a title fight loss at UFC 281 and two previous kickboxing defeats to the Brazilian striker.

Pereira, a former two-division champion in Glory Kickboxing, is set to face Jan Blachowicz in the light heavyweight division at UFC 291 on July 29. Adesanya, who faced Blachowicz and lost during one of the Polish fighter's successful title defenses, shared some advice with Pereira during a recent airport encounter.

Photo: Instagram/Israel Adesanya

Adesanya believes Pereira has the potential to knock out Blachowicz, cautioning him to be wary of the former champion's patience due to Pereira's impressive striking skills. One reason Adesanya has been hesitant about committing to another fight with Pereira is the satisfaction he derived from knocking Pereira out in their second MMA bout.

Pereira had previously secured knockout wins over Adesanya in both kickboxing and the UFC, which Adesanya believes overshadowed his own accomplishments. Nonetheless, Adesanya is now content with whatever the future holds regarding Pereira and their rivalry.

Reflecting on their history, Adesanya acknowledged that his victory at UFC 287 was one of the most gratifying moments of his career. Despite the previous losses to Pereira, Adesanya is focused on proving to himself that he can defeat his rival.

He recognizes Pereira's spirit and talent as a fighter, expressing admiration for his story and the cool narrative surrounding their encounters. Adesanya's determination to overcome Pereira led him to push himself to the limit during their last bout, ensuring he could rewrite his own narrative.

Regarding Pereira's potential title shot in the light heavyweight division, Adesanya remains uncertain about the outcome. He acknowledges the difficulty of competing at 205 pounds and does not guarantee another fight with Pereira.

However, if Pereira secures the 205-pound belt and follows a similar fast-track trajectory as Adesanya did, there is a possibility of an epic fifth encounter between the two fighters. Adesanya recognizes the wild nature of such a scenario and the excitement it would generate among fans.

Read Next: Mel Gibson Sends Encouraging Message To Alexander Volkanovski Ahead of UFC 290 Encounter

Source: MMA Fighting 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Ben Affleck Spends Thanksgiving With Jennifer Garner And Their Kids

Image
Photo: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner / Instagram   Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner proved once again they are a model for friendly co-parenting this Thanksgiving. The actor was seen walking to Garner’s Brentwood, California, home to join her and their three kids — Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 — for a cozy holiday dinner. Earlier in the day, the former couple volunteered together at the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles, helping serve meals to 2,000 people in need. Wearing matching aprons, they shared smiles and worked as a team, showing how well they still get along. Affleck, who is going through a tough divorce from Jennifer Lopez , reportedly felt “blessed” to spend the holiday with Garner and their children. A source close to the actor said, “Ben feels comfortable and happy being with Jen and the kids. He’s always appreciated the strong connection they have.” Photo: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner / Instagram   The source also mentioned that this isn’t the first ti...
Read More

Oscar De La Hoya Accuses Eddie Hearn of Favoritism And Personal Misconduct

Image
Photo: Oscar De La Hoya, Eddie Hearn / Instagram   Oscar De La Hoya , a well-known boxing promoter, has made some serious accusations against Eddie Hearn, his fellow promoter. De La Hoya shared his thoughts in a now-deleted Instagram post during Thanksgiving, stirring up drama in the boxing world. De La Hoya first criticized Hearn’s handling of WBC Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson . But things got personal when he mentioned rumors that Hearn is romantically involved with female boxer Skye Nicolson, who holds the WBC Featherweight title. According to De La Hoya, their relationship has been a topic of gossip in the boxing community since 2022. He went further, accusing Hearn of showing "preferential treatment" to Nicolson. De La Hoya pointed to a video of Hearn and Nicolson appearing "cozy" outside a club in Miami, claiming Hearn should have been focusing on promoting the big women's fight between Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor , instead of making moves for ...
Read More

LeBron James And Anthony Edwards Playfully “Fight” During Lakers Warmup

Image
Photo: LeBron James, Anthony Edwards / Instagram   NBA stars LeBron James and Anthony Edwards had fans laughing with a lighthearted moment during a Lakers warmup session. A video of the playful “fight” quickly went viral on social media. The clip shows the Los Angeles Lakers legend and Minnesota Timberwolves rising star pretending to scuffle in a staged showdown. Both players leaned into the joke, with LeBron pretending to square up and Edwards playing along with enthusiasm. Fans loved the funny interaction, flooding social media with comments. “This is why LeBron is the GOAT, even off the court,” one fan wrote. Another joked, “Only Edwards would dare to ‘fight’ the King!” Photo: LeBron James, Anthony Edwards / Instagram   The moment also showed the respect between the two players. LeBron, a four-time NBA champion, has long been a role model for younger stars like Edwards, who is making his mark in the league. View this post on Instagram A post shared by S...
Read More

Ben Affleck Turns To Ex Jennifer Garner For Help After Split With Jennifer Lopez

Image
Photo: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner / Instagram   Ben Affleck is looking ahead after his split from Jennifer Lopez and has reportedly turned to his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner , for support in finding love again. According to a report by Radar Online, Affleck has asked Garner to help him find a partner who is grounded and genuine. A source shared, “He’s ready for something real. Jennifer is great at spotting genuine people, and he trusts her judgment. He’s done with Hollywood divas and wants someone mature.” Garner, who shares three children with Affleck — Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 — is reportedly happy to help. “She wants Ben to be happy and is glad to have a say in who he dates, as that person will be around their kids,” the insider added. Photo: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner / Instagram   Affleck and Garner were married for 13 years before divorcing in 2018 but have remained close, co-parenting their kids and supporting each other through challenges. Meanwhile...
Read More

Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals Justin Gaethje Hit Him Hardest In UFC Career

Image
Photo: Khabib Nurmagomedov / Instagram Khabib Nurmagomedov , one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, has faced many tough opponents. But when it comes to punching power, he says no one hit harder than Justin Gaethje . The two fought at UFC 254 on October 24, 2020. It was Khabib’s last fight before retiring. During the bout, Gaethje landed heavy punches and kicks that Khabib admitted were painful. “He hit like a truck,” Khabib said on Mike Tyson ’s Hotboxin' podcast. “His left hook, right hook, uppercut—they all hurt. But I made him hit me because I knew he didn’t like wrestling. My plan was to tire him out by standing with him, then take him to the ground and finish the fight.” Photo: Khabib Nurmagomedov / Instagram Khabib ended the fight with a triangle choke submission. He explained he chose the move out of respect for Gaethje’s parents, who were watching. “I didn’t want to break his arm in front of his parents,” Khabib said. “So I put him to sleep instead. That’s better.” D...
Read More

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Talk Marriage: Report

Image
Photo: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce / Instagram   Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been dating for over a year, and fans are eager to know if they are ready to tie the knot.  The couple recently celebrated Thanksgiving with their families, marking another milestone in their relationship. According to Us Weekly, both Swift, 34, and Kelce, 35, are open to taking the next step but aren’t in a rush. “They’ve talked about getting engaged, and they’d both love it, but they’re waiting for the right time,” said one source. Photo: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce / Instagram   Another insider shared that Swift sees Kelce as "The One," but she prefers to take things slow. “Marriage is a big deal for Taylor. She wants it to last forever, so she’s not rushing into anything,” the source explained. Kelce, too, is excited about the idea of marrying Swift, but for now, the couple seems happy letting things unfold naturally. Fans will have to wait a bit longer to hear wedding bells, but it’s ...
Read More

Ireland Turns Away From Conor McGregor After Guilty Verdict

Image
Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   Conor McGregor , once celebrated as Ireland’s biggest sports star, now faces a wave of backlash following a jury’s verdict in a civil case that found him guilty of sexual assault . The case was brought by Nikita Hand, who accused McGregor of raping her at a Dublin hotel in 2018. She was awarded nearly €250,000 in damages, though McGregor has said he will appeal the decision. The verdict has led to significant consequences for McGregor’s reputation and brand.  Products linked  to him have been pulled from shelves in both Ireland and the UK, brands have cut ties, and murals of him have been painted over. His whiskey brand, Proper No. Twelve , will no longer use his name or image in marketing, and the creators of the Hitman video game announced they have ended their collaboration with him. Even Ireland’s National Wax Museum has removed his statue. Gym owners, like Gary Scully of Scully Fitness in Galway, have painted over murals of McGreg...
Read More

Francis Ngannou Challenges Jon Jones For UFC Megafight

Image
Photo: Francis Ngannou / Instagram   The UFC’s heavyweight division has been buzzing since Jon Jones captured the title, but former champ Francis Ngannou isn’t staying silent. Ngannou, who left the UFC in early 2022, recently sent a strong message to Jones, sparking hopes for a dream matchup. Ngannou posted on social media, writing, "Blessings make haters uncomfortable, but they can't change it. There's only one fight, the right fight that will multiply your blessings. #NgannouVSJones." The post came after Jones responded to criticism from fans accusing him of avoiding top contenders like Tom Aspinall . Jones, who defeated Stipe Miocic last month with a spinning back kick in the third round, addressed the critics, saying, "Crazy how being called a 'duck' pays better than most of your Internet tough guys will make in a lifetime. Two fights in four years and still one of the biggest names in the sport? That’s not ducking, that’s winning." Photo: Fr...
Read More

Jake Paul Reveals Fighter Who Turned Down $8 Million Netflix Deal

Image
Photo: Jake Paul / Instagram   Jake Paul has become one of the biggest names in boxing, especially after his recent fight against boxing legend Mike Tyson . The 27-year-old took on the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion in an eight-round match in Texas. The fight was streamed live on Netflix and drew massive attention. Paul won the fight by unanimous decision, bringing his record to 11-1. While his victory boosted his fame, the match didn’t live up to expectations, as Tyson struggled to perform like he did in his prime. Paul is now focused on his next move. He revealed that Tommy Fury , the only man to beat him, turned down an $8 million offer to fight on Netflix. Fury, who defeated Paul in February 2023 in a split decision, chose not to accept the lucrative rematch deal. Photo: Tommy Fury, Jake Paul / Instagram   Paul didn’t hold back, calling Fury out on social media: “Offered [Tommy] Fury $8M to fight on Netflix. He turned it down and now fighting an MMA fighter… No...
Read More

UFC Champ Alex Pereira Stuns Bodybuilder In Arm Wrestling Challenge

Image
Photo: Alex Pereira / Instagram   UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira surprised fans during his trip to Korea by dominating a bodybuilder in an arm wrestling match. The viral moment happened during a gym session with Kim Kang Min, a popular bodybuilder and influencer known from the reality show Physical 100. Pereira, who recently defended his title three times in seven months, has been enjoying a well-earned break in Asia. His adventures have included sightseeing, meeting fans, and trying new challenges. One of those challenges was arm wrestling the 209-pound Kim, who led Pereira through a series of workouts before the showdown. Kim, curious about how he’d stack up against the champion, said through a translator, “I’ll see if I’m strong enough to compete.” Pereira, speaking in Portuguese, replied humbly, “I’m strong when competing, but weak when lifting weights.” Photo: Alex Pereira / Instagram   When they faced off, it quickly became clear that Pereira had the upper ...
Read More