Israel Adesanya has shared plenty of history with Alex Pereira across multiple combat sports, but for “The Last Stylebender,” their rivalry was never about revenge. It was about self-belief.
After losing twice to Pereira in kickboxing, Israel Adesanya suffered another setback when “Poatan” knocked him out to win the UFC middleweight title at UFC 281 in November 2022. Five months later, Adesanya flipped the script in dramatic fashion, scoring a Knockout of the Year contender to reclaim the belt and close the chapter on one of MMA’s most intense rivalries.
Speaking during a session at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, Israel Adesanya reflected on what those battles truly meant to him.
“For me, it was never really about him, it was always about me,” Adesanya said. “I knew, technically, I’m the only one to hurt this man multiple times. I knew I could always touch him.”
Following their rematch, Pereira moved up to light heavyweight and went on to become a two-division UFC champion. Despite briefly losing the title earlier this year, Pereira bounced back in emphatic fashion with a first-round knockout at UFC 320, reestablishing himself at the top of the division.
Israel Adesanya made it clear there’s no bitterness left, only respect.
“I’m so proud of what he’s doing now, two-time light heavyweight champ now,” Adesanya said. “He’s back on top now, about to fight [Jon] Jones at the White House. I hope he never loses [again].”
While Adesanya celebrates his former rival’s success, he admitted that finally defeating Pereira carried deep personal significance.
“I hope he retires undefeated [moving forward] because I always knew it’s not about other people, it’s about me,” he explained. “After he beat me at Madison Square Garden, people were like, ‘Oh, he’ll never want to fight him again.’ But I was like, ‘Yo, Dana, run that sh*t back. I need that.’”
Israel Adesanya also offered a message that goes beyond fighting, framing their rivalry as a lesson in self-trust and persistence.
“If you know you’re better than him, f*ck him. Prove it to yourself,” Adesanya said. “Find a way to fight him again and prove you’re a better master at this game. That’s all it is.”
As both men move forward, with no plans for another clash, Israel Adesanya appears content with his legacy. Titles may no longer define his journey, but moments like conquering his greatest rival still do.
