UFC 287: Conor McGregor, UFC fighters react to Israel Adesanya putting Alex Pereira's lights out
See how fellow fighters reacted to Israel Adesanya KOing Alex Pereira and regaining the UFC middleweight championship at UFC 287.
It may not be the first win in the career of Israel Adesanya, let alone the first title win, but it definitely has to be the sweetest.
Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira and is once again the UFC middleweight champion, getting it done in the UFC 287 main event.
The pair got off to a slow start, as Adesanya looked to avoid Pereira's power and get out of his range. The two did a lot of kick exchanging during that time.
Things got busy in the second, however, with Pereira getting in and landing on Adesanya. Pereira buckled Adesanya and forced him to the cage in the second round. There, Pereira threw wildly and looked to finish Adesanya, but "The Last Stylebender" had a big answer. Adesanya landed a combination, emphasized by a right hook that sent Pereira to the Shadow Realm.
UFC 287: Pros react to Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya 2
Quadrilogy’s are fun.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 9, 2023
Ohhhhhh emmmmmm geeeee
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 9, 2023
Omggg!!!
— Jamie Mullarkey (@jamie_mullarkey) April 9, 2023
Izzy is back 🔥🔥🔥🔥 let’s go 🥶 🥶 wow that’s huge
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) April 9, 2023
HOLY SHITTTTTTTT
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) April 9, 2023
Sheeeeeesh!!!! Statement made to reclaim the crown!! #UFC287
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 9, 2023
Woooooooow! Izzy is back in a big way! #ufc287
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) April 9, 2023
Cheeehoo was the Toa Samoa shorts
— Justin Tafa (@justin_tafa) April 9, 2023
Adesanya broke the curse
— Diana Belbiță (@DianaBelbita) April 9, 2023
#UFC287
Goddamn!!! Izzy said #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/YWFYJMZzxo
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 9, 2023
That’s how you do it baby…LFG!! #ufc287
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 9, 2023
Congratulations on a successful rematch, @stylebender. If you want to try another one, you know where to find me. This time at middleweight for your belt. #UFC287
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) April 9, 2023
now it's my time 👊🏼 let’s go make it happen @danawhite 🫡
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) April 9, 2023
This was a rematch from their UFC 281 encounter in November. Adesanya looked close to retaining the championship in that fight before Pereira finished him off in the fifth.
Prior to their full-time runs in MMA, Pereira and Adesanya fought twice in kickboxing. Pereira won both fights — with the first by decision and the second by a brutal knockout.
Before his championship win, Pereira's UFC tenure saw him finish Andreas Michailidis at UFC 268, score a decision over Bruno Silva at UFC Vegas 50 and quickly knock out Sean Strickland at UFC 276.
Adesanya originally defeated Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title at UFC 236 and became undisputed champion by defeating Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. Adesanya successfully retained the title against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Whittaker and Jared Cannonier. This stretch also included a decision loss to then-light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz.
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