Israel Adesanya defeats Alex Pereira with stunning knockout to reclaim UFC middleweight title on Sunday morning fight.
In a spectacular knockout victory over Alex Pereira at UFC 287 at the Kaseya Centre on Sunday morning., Israel Adesanya avenged his lone middleweight loss by defeating the Brazilian in the second round.
Adesanya’s immaculate boxing started to pay off in the second round after a cagey first frame in which Pereira viciously kicked at Adesanya’s lead leg. Both fighters also landed head kicks early in the round.
Adesanya was backed up against the cage as the second round came to a close when he suddenly uncorked a big right hand and followed it up with another to knock Pereira out cold and reclaim the title he had previously lost to the Brazilian in November.
Adesanya followed Pereira down to the mat but referee Dan Mirgliotta waved the fight off, returning the Nigerian-born New Zealander to the top of the middleweight pile, a weight class he has dominated for the last four years.
“I don’t throw and hope, I aim and fire!” – Me 🏹 pic.twitter.com/jYCReHrrMk
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) April 9, 2023
“I played possum a bit … look at me, I am here, he is here, that last one (punch) had everything. That last hammer fist was from the gods,” Adesanya said in a post-fight interview in the cage.
The 33-year-old expressed to the audience that he wished they would experience the same happiness that he was experiencing at the time.
“You will never find that resolve if you stay down. When you rise, strengthen your mind and experience this degree of enjoyment “Adesanya, who had faced Pereira three times before without ever defeating him in kickboxing or mixed martial arts, stated.
Local favorite Jorge Masvidal declared his retirement in the cage after losing the co-main event to Gilbert Burns of Brazil by unanimous decision.
