When Alex Pereira joined the UFC as MMA neophyte in 2021, the thought of him chased his former rival kickboxing champion who became Israel Adesanya was a pure fantasy. But the Brazilian won two victories over Adesanya of the days of kickboxing of the pair, proving that he was a worthy stylistic confrontation if he improbably climbing this mountain.
Pereira finally exceeded the top of the middle weights, fighting against Adesanya twice more in MMA and going 1-1 with his rival. Now Light Heavyweight champion, Pereira does not expect an MMA trilogy, any more than Adesanya. During Appearance in studio Monday on “The Ariel Helwani Show”, “ Pereira expressed his respect for Adesanya and the desire to join together in the training room together in the future, admitting that he would probably not be where he is today without such a strong rival.
After hearing these words, Adesanya shared a similar feeling during the Tuesday edition of the program.
“I feel the same. I think God blessed me with a great adversary like Alex Pereira,” said Adesanya. “He blessed me with a big challenge like that. And it is easy to say that now on this side, but F * CK, it takes a lot to take this man. And I always knew that we would have History and I always knew I could best, and I’m glad that God blessed me with this challenge to be able to go up on the occasion.
“I’m glad we can somehow share (our respect now). Even when we met at the airport like, two years ago, three years ago – we were still some sort of reinforcement, But there was a little (respect there).
“But I respect the guy, and I want the best for him. I like what he does. I like the fact that he goes through everyone because, once again, it shows how it is Good.”
“Certainly,” added Adesanya about potential training together in the future. “Again, these things happen organically. You cannot (force it). This happens organically. So when it happens and the stars are aligning – if it happens, but it is not again – yes, I will be open to this one. “
Pereira is not the only former rival that Adesanya has warmed up in his more veterans. In fact, he got closer to another colleague champion considerably than he was likely to be expected.
Adesanya and Robert Whittaker recently trained together for the first time before Adesanya’s return to Nassourdine Imavov to UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The unexpected partnership is involved in the wake of their hoping championship rivalry, in which Adesanya and Whittaker contributed from 2019-222, Adesanya winning the two fights.
When Whittaker reflected the duo with without court in the recent duo union, he recalled how he would probably have “struck Adesanya with a car” if he could at the top of their quarrel.
Adesanya is not sure that he would have left that Far, but he certainly sees the evolution of their relationship and appreciates it.
“I don’t know if I would have struck him with a car, but I would certainly have struck him,” said Adesanya, laughing. “I would have struck him. I’m just happy that he stopped, I’m happy that he passed. Chill guys, huh?
“We sat at my house and we were ventilation (video), but it was as if we just relaxed with (my brother) David and my boy Matt, and we were just talking Sh * t. And even after the cameras were extinguished, we had a little just Chin Wag, and it was just cool. Again, why would I hate someone who was on the same trip as me or a trip similar to me? Because I understand what he is trying to do or what he did, because he did – one of the first to do it from Anzac.
“So yes, I always have respect for him, but now I have so much love for the guy, and I can’t wait for us to work more in the future.”
For his next time, Adesanya has participated in a title without title for the first time since he beat Anderson Silva via a unanimous decision in early 2019. He is trying to have a skid of two fights with his head in tête-à-tête against IMAVOV at UFC Saudi Saudi Arabia at UFC SAUDIA.
“I want to compete at the highest level because I always feel like I am the best. I’m going to prove it,” said Adesanya. “Again, I am quietly confident with my skills and the work I put for this fight, so I can’t wait to go and do the work. Then, people will be on my d ** * Again, like: “Oh my God, it is that, it is, it is incredible.”
“You have a loss and,” Ah, he should retire, he finished, he is washed. “And then you go there and smoke someone (and this love is back)., He should retire. But I don’t listen, I just do what I want to do.”
(Tagstotranslate) Israel Adesanya
