Alex Pereira‘s impressive hat-trick winning streak came to a screeching halt when he faced his long-standing rival, Israel Adesanya, during UFC 287. It was undeniably the most important fight of the Kiwi’s career, with a lot at stake. And he certainly made the most out of it.
‘The Last Stylebender’ managed to defeat the Brazilian fighter, ending his dominance in their rivalry. Adesanya was over the moon after the fight and celebrated with great zest. However, he took things too far when he went on to mock Pereira’s sister & his son after winning the match.
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Despite facing criticism for his post-fight actions, Adesanya didn’t stop celebrating his victory with great enthusiasm. This move by Adesanya received significant backlash from fans and pundits alike. Nevertheless, he continued to bask in the glory of his victory over Pereira, posting tweets and updates on his quest to reclaim the UFC middleweight championship belt.
However, it seems that the 35-year-old Pereira has now decided to speak up and put a reality check on Adesanya’s boasts.
Alex Pereira puts forth the receipts for Israel Adesanya
Taking to Twitter, Alex Pereira issued a stern reminder to his rival Israel Adesanya about who is leading the scorecard in their long-standing rivalry. ‘Poatan’ put together a compilation of all their four encounters so far, showcasing his three victories against Adesanya’s one.
We are the best. But I’m still better. Numbers don’t lie. 3:1. pic.twitter.com/Y8hxlyAwyZ
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) April 29, 2023
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Asserting his dominance, Pereira wrote, “We are the best. But I’m still better. Numbers don’t lie. 3:1.” Although both the fighters shared their moment of respect post the fight, it seems the rivalry they have isn’t letting the bad blood vanish that easily.
Moreover, with Adesanya’s win in their UFC rematch, fans are clamoring for a trilogy fight. Unfortunately, with Pereira announcing his move up to the light-heavyweight division for his next bout, the possibility of a trilogy is on the back burner.
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It will be interesting to see how these two fighters’ journeys unfold from here on. But with a rivalry this iconic, a trilogy seems inevitable. How do you see this rivalry shaping up now? Do you think a trilogy will take place someday in the future or is the idea gone for good? Please let us know in the comments below.
Watch this story: “He Was Rotten Inside” – Helpless Alcoholic Alex Pereira’s Struggle Before UFC Fame Laid Bare by Coach