UFC 287: Israel Adesanya Reports “Different Mindset” For “Last Shot” Against Alex Pereira
By Kelsey Mowatt
Israel Adesanya has been granted an immediate rematch with Alex Pereira at UFC 287, but the former middleweight champ believes this will be his last chance to get one back from his rival.
Adesanya has been tapped to face Pereira again at the April 8th event, which will take place in Miami, Florida. The two battled for the first time in the Octagon this past November, and Pereira stopped Adesanya in round five.
That fight was actually the third time the feared strikers have fought, however, as during their respective kickboxing careers, Pereira defeated Adesanya twice.
So, while discussing the upcoming bout on his YouTube channel, Adesanya reported he’ll be a different fighter at UFC 287 (quotes from MMA Junkie).
“I’m hunting, and I mean that in every sense of the word,” Adesanya said. “The mindset is different, definitely. Even (coach) Eugene (Bareman) and I are on the same page. The mindset is definitely different.
“I like it because it puts it all on me, and it’s kind of poetic in a way. One life: Roll the dice. This is my last shot, and I’m going to give it all I’ve got in every sense of the word.”
Adesanya (23-2) had won three straight before fighting Pereira in November and was coming off a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier.
Pereira (7-1) had stopped Sean Strickland leading up to his bout with Adesanya and is 4-0 in the UFC to date.