UFC 281: Pros react to Alex Pereira comeback win over Israel Adesanya

See how fellow fighters reacted to Alex Pereira pulling off a last-round finish to defeat Israel Adesanya and become UFC middleweight champion at UFC 281.

For the second time in a three-month span, a UFC title fight ends in a fifth-round, comeback victory for the challenger. And in just his eighth MMA fight, and just his fourth in the Octagon, Alex Pereira can call himself a UFC champion.

Pereira defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 to become the new UFC middleweight champion in the main event of the Madison Square Garden card.

Adesanya’s patient attack was seen on display in the opening round, trying to pick his shots against Pereira, who looked to close up the cage against “The Last Stylebender.” Pereira clinched up with Adesanya late in the round and landed some notable shots, but Adesanya landed a two-punch combo that rocked Pereira before the horn.

Pereira got back into control in the second round, fighting in close and wobbling Adesanya late. Adesanya, however, managed to catch Pereira rushing in during the third and got to Pereira’s back, landing some ground-and-pound and staying in complete control.

Adesanya looked in complete control throughout the fourth, teeing off on a tired Pereira, but Pereira stumbled Adesanya with a left hook in a combination in the fifth round, forcing the referee to step in and give the title to Pereira.

UFC 281: Pros react to Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira

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Adesanya and Pereira have a long history going back to their days in kickboxing. They fought twice, with Pereira winning by decision in 2016 and by knockout in 2017. The knockout was so devastating Adesanya was stretchered out of the ring.

Adesanya won the interim middleweight title at UFC 236 before becoming the undisputed champion by finishing Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. Since then, Adesanya has retained the title against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Whittaker and Jared Cannonier. His sole MMA loss came at UFC 259, where he challenged Jan Blachowicz for the UFC light heavyweight title.

A former GLORY middleweight and light heavyweight champion, Pereira made his UFC debut last year at UFC 268 with a TKO of Andreas Michailidis. He had since scored a decision over Bruno Silva at a March Fight Night card and knocked out Sean Strickland at UFC 276.

UFC 281: Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira takes place on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, live from Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Follow along with FanSided MMA for all your news and highlights.