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Tuesday, Jun 13, 2023

Israel Adesanya: Title Fight at LHW Only Path to Fifth Alex Pereira Fight

Israel Adesanya (left) and Alex Pereira (right)(image via YouTube).

By FCF Staff

After Israel Adesanya, finally, handed Alex Pereira a defeat this past April, there was talk about whether the two would fight for the UFC’s middleweight title again. But, it looks like Adesanya has closed the door on the two fighting again, unless, it’s for the promotion’s light-heavyweight crown.

Adesanya avenged his previous three losses to Pereira at UFC 287, by knocking out the feared striker in round two. Pereira took the middleweight belt from Adesanya in November, by stopping the star in round five.

That bout marked the third time Pereira had defeated Adesanya, as he also bested the renowned fighter in two, kickboxing matches.

Following UFC 287, Pereira announced that he was moving up to light-heavyweight for his next bout. But, he also said he might be open to dropping down to middleweight again for another clash with Adesanya.

But, during a recent episode on “The MMA Hour“, Adesanya relayed he doesn’t see the two fighting at middleweight again (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“If he wins the belt at 205 I’ll do it again,” Adesanya said. “But if not – I think he’s done with it. I’m done with it. I think everyone else wants to see it, but we’ve moved on.

“If I were to bet money on it, no (I don’t think it happens). 205, I’ve been there, it’s hard. If he wins the 205 belt, though, they might give him a fast track like they did with me, and then they’re going to have a magic, crazy, f*cking epic fight at 205 with me and him. That will be us for the fifth time.”

Pereira is booked to fight former light-heavyweight champ, Jan Blachowicz, on July 29th. UFC President Dana White has said that if Pereira wins, a title shot for the latter would “make sense”.

posted by FCF Staff @ 10:26 am
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