We all remember the epic show-down between The Stylebender and Alex Pereira at UFC 287. This was when Izzy scored a brutal knockout to defeat Alex, who had previously defeated him three times. But what if the saga continued with a fifth fight?
This can happen only under certain circumstances. Continue reading to find out what they are!
There was pressure from some in the MMA world to schedule their third bout under the UFC brand and third fight overall right away. However, Pereira decided to switch weight classes and will make his light heavyweight debut on July 29 against Jan Blachowicz. UFC president Dana White said it would “make sense” for Pereira to compete for the 205-pound title if he defeats Blachowicz.
Meanwhile, Adesanya declared that if he can accomplish that by winning the title, he will seriously consider setting up another match. Adesanya stated during an interview with “The MMA Hour” that if Pereira wins the belt at 205, he would be willing to have a rematch. However, if he did not win the belt, Adesanya believed that both he and his opponent would be done with the idea of a rematch.
Adesanya expressed his skepticism about the rematch, saying he didn’t think it would occur if he had to bet money on it. He shared that he had experienced the challenges of fighting at 205 before and considered it to be a difficult weight class. However, Adesanya speculated that if his opponent were to win the “205” belt, the promotion might expedite their path, similar to what happened with him. Ultimately, they could have a highly anticipated and exciting fight at 205 between the two fighters. Adesanya referred to this potential matchup as a “magic, crazy, f*cking epic fight” and said it would be their fifth encounter.
Adesanya has already given light heavyweight a go, but it didn’t go well. At UFC 259 in March 2021, he was defeated by then-champ Blachowicz. Yet “The Last Stylebender” has declared that he will ultimately return to the weight division in an effort to win a second championship.
The ideal scenario would be if Pereira succeeds in scaling the mountain. Nevertheless, Adesanya claims that this is not the scenario he is after. He previously defeated Pereira to get the victory he needed, and he is now content with their shared past.
Adesanya expressed that he focuses on proving to himself that he can defeat his opponent, regardless of the outcome of future fights. He believes the judges made a wrong decision in their first encounter. So, even though he was winning in the second and third fights, his opponent emerged as the victor. Despite acknowledging his opponent’s skills, Adesanya is confident in his ability to defeat him.
Adesanya is determined to protect his legacy and ensure victory, which he achieved in their recent fight. Nevertheless, what would be the outcome of this fight if it reached the octagon?
Drop a comment to let us know!
