UFC 287: 3 things we learned

Israel Adesanya can still finish fights

If "third time's a charm" does not work in your favor, you should try a fourth.

Adesanya carried the weight of two losses in kickboxing and one in MMA that dethroned him as the middleweight King against the same opponent. The culprit was none other than Alex Pereira, and at UFC 287, the two squared off for the fourth time in their careers.

Pereira came into the fight with the confidence of a champion. On the other hand, Adesanya had a huge chip on his shoulder. The ender came in the second round when Adesanya found himself in an identical position to where he got finished in their last meeting.

Only this time, with his back to the cage and his rival firing from all angles, Adesanya landed a right hook to knock Pereira out cold and regain his championship status. After getting his sweet revenge, a new era has begun for Adesanya.

Before the two fights against Pereira, Adesanya's title defenses against Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier were lackluster, and some fans labeled him a boring fighter. Another prime example was his bout against Yoel Romero when to the crowd's displeasure, both men refused to engage in the fight.

To get not just another finish, but to knock your bitter nemesis out cold, answered any questions fans have about Adesanya. And to kick off his second run as the champion in that manner should send a clear message for a new breed of challengers to come. Quite literally, Adesanya produced the best result when his back was against the wall. He did not just prove that he can still win, but he can finish fights.

Whether or not Adesanya and Pereira will fight for a third time in the UFC is a mystery. But after a win like this, Adesnya has certainly got fans tuning in.