Israel Adesanya defeated Alex Pereira to become a two-time middleweight champion and closed the door on a potential trilogy bout.
Israel Adesanya won back his title as middleweight champion in the UFC 287 main event by defeating Alex Pereira. Prior to the bout, Adesanya had lost three matches to Pereira in combat sports, including a championship. This victory was sweet for Adesanya, who dominated Pereira in the second round with a thunderous right hand that sent him crashing to the canvas. Some follow-up punches rendered Pereira unconscious, and Adesanya earned his two-time champion status.
Adesanya explained his motivation for accepting the challenge to face Pereira again, despite his previous losses. He stated that he wanted a challenge, especially one from someone who had beaten him in kickboxing. The UFC fighter had previously won the belt against Kelvin Gastelum and successfully defended it against several renowned fighters such as Rob Whittaker, Joel Romero, and Paulo Costa, among others. Thus, he had earned his rematch and the two-time champion status.
The newly crowned two-time champion confirmed that this was the end of his story with Pereira and closed that chapter of his life. Adesanya also noted that he does not keep scores, but he settles them. He acknowledged that Pereira had his own story and that his victory had ended that story. Now it was Adesanya’s story, and he had settled it. The two-time champion closed the door on the possibility of another bout against Pereira, stating that the fighter would need to earn it through his hard work.
In conclusion, Adesanya had been determined to get back what was once his, and he did so through his hard-earned rematch with Pereira. His skill in the ring and strong mentality earned him his two-time champion status, and he had finally settled the score with his rival. The victory was a testament to Adesanya’s sportsmanship and his readiness to take on challenges head-on.