Israel Adesanya Declares Rivalry With Alex Pereira Over

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has announced that he is officially ending his fierce rivalry with Alex Pereira.

This announcement closes one of the most captivating feuds in modern combat sports. In a recent episode of his YouTube channel, FreeStyleBender, Adesanya reflected on their history while looking forward to Pereira’s upcoming title defense at UFC 307.

Adesanya stated, “My story with him is over. People still love to remind me, especially the ‘Poat’rds,’ that the score is still 3-1, d’mn it.” This comment shows Adesanya’s wish to move on from their competitive past and the emotional weight that came with their fights.

Their rivalry has lasted for seven years and spans two combat sports: kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Pereira initially held the advantage, defeating Adesanya twice in kickboxing matches. He then delivered a shocking TKO to win the UFC middleweight title from Adesanya in November 2022. This defeat was particularly significant for Adesanya, as he had previously beaten Pereira.

However, Adesanya made a strong comeback just six months later by reclaiming the title with a second-round knockout of Pereira. This victory not only restored him as champion but also earned him the Knockout of the Year award for 2023, further establishing his status as one of the top fighters in the sport.

While fans have been eager for a trilogy match to determine a final outcome, both Adesanya and Pereira seem ready to move past their rivalry. Pereira expressed respect for Adesanya’s sportsmanship, saying, “I think it was a nice thing that he did. I have a lot of respect for the fact that the rivalry stayed in the ring.”

Their changing relationship highlights a newfound mutual respect, with talks of possibly training together. This marks a significant change from their previous intense confrontations and shows the professional growth both fighters have experienced.

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