THE UFC returns to Madison Square Garden in New York City this weekend with a trilogy matchup like no other in MMA’s short but spectacular triple decade history.
Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defends his crown for the sixth time against Alex Pereira, on a card that also includes UK fan favourite ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann.
On paper, the 185lb main event at UFC 281 could be construed as a mismatch. But, in reality, it’s one of the most fascinating bouts of the year.
Nigerian-Kiwi king Adesanya is 23-1 in MMA, with 15 knockouts and a pound-for-pound ranking to boot. He’s the most creative striker in the sport today and has used his status as UFC champion to become a crossover mainstream star.
Pereira meanwhile boasts a meagre 6-1 MMA record. The Brazilian only truly committed to the cage after signing with the UFC in 2021, and has beaten just one top 10 opponent in three appearances.
So, why is the South American an acceptable challenger to Adesanya’s reign?
Israel Adesanya required oxygen when knocked out cold by Alex Pereira. #UFC276 pic.twitter.com/qjgp3P6qLc
— Roots Reggae Loud (@RootsReggaeLoud) June 29, 2022
Well, both previous meetings, albeit in a kickboxing ring, ended with Pereira getting his arm raised. The second time, in 2017, courtesy of a chilling one-punch knockout.
That defeat would be Izzy’s last ever kickboxing bout and, less than a year later, he debuted in the UFC and started building his way into championship class.
Meanwhile, Pereira stayed in kickboxing, going on to become the Glory middleweight champion and defended that belt seven times all over the globe.
But with the UFC and its stars reaching new levels of fame and fortune it was inevitable the Brazilian, who had four MMA fights back in 2015-16, would return to the cage.
The 35-year-old signed with the UFC last November and from the first day he arrived talk of a showdown with Adesanya has been unabated.
His first-round knockout of #7 ranked Sean Stickland in July was enough to see him handed this chance, also largely due to the fact Adesanya has run through the rest of the top 10, some more than once.
In fact, the 33-year-old champion has looked nothing short of incredible since he joined the UFC himself back in 2018. ‘The Last Stylebender’s only loss was when he prematurely jumped up to light-heavyweight only to run into giant Pole Jan Blachowicz last year.
At 185lb, Izzy has won all 12 fights in the UFC, bagging seven performance bonuses and dropping little more than a handful of rounds along the way.
As a mixed martial artist, Adesanya leaves Pereira in the shade in regards to both experience and expertise. But he employs his skillset to keep the fight at range and on the feet. Exactly what Pereira desires too.
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“I heard the crown heavy, lucky I’m big headed.” – LaRussell pic.twitter.com/8lUeTJHCa6— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) November 9, 2022
Their first fight was incredibly close and could have gone either way on the scorecards. Whilst second time around, Izzy was clearly winning in Brazil only to get caught by a counter left hook.
Both will rightly be brimming with confidence. But this is Adesanya’s world and Pereira is still just a tourist. Of course, the Brazilian’s power has to be respected. But expect vintage Izzy to dominate on the scorecards.
* Meatball Molly faces her sternest test to date taking on 23-year-old phenom Erin Blanchfield, ranked three spots about the Scouser in #12. But riding high with two consecutive spinning elbow KO’s, new-look McCann can fire her way to another sensational TKO victory
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