Israel Adesanya Declares End to Rivalry with Alex Pereira
Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has stated that his storied rivalry with Alex Pereira has come to an end. In a recent YouTube video on his channel, FreeStyleBender, Adesanya said, “My story with him is over.”
This development follows Pereira’s recent title defense at UFC 307 and his acknowledgement of the mutual respect between the two fighters.
Pereira expressed appreciation for Adesanya’s sportsmanship, stating, “I think it was a really nice thing that he did. I have a lot of respect for the fact that the rivalry stayed in the ring.”
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The rivalry between Adesanya and Pereira, spanning seven years and two combat disciplines, has seen both fighters experience significant highs and lows.
While Pereira initially held the upper hand, Adesanya reclaimed his title with a second-round knockout in June 2023.
Despite fan interest in a trilogy bout, both fighters seem content to move on. Pereira even suggested potential future training sessions together, highlighting the evolving nature of their relationship.
Adesanya previously attributed some of Pereira’s success to supernatural forces, but now appears to have closed the chapter on their rivalry.
With this declaration, it seems the two fighters are ready to focus on new challenges and opportunities in the world of combat sports.