Israel Adesanya, despite his longstanding and career-defining rivalry with Alex Pereira, is glad to see ‘Poatan’ become so successful. The Brazilian, of course, had beaten ‘Izzy’ in 2022 to win the middleweight title, only to lose it again in their rematch early last year.

Since then, he has moved up to the 205-pound light heavyweight division and not only became the champion but defended his title twice! Not to mention the Brazilian may be the first person to become the UFC’s first three-division champ if his wish for a heavyweight title shot is granted by Dana White and co.

And Israel Adesanya, in an interview with Daniel Cormier, admitted that not only was he happy at Pereira’s success, but wished well to him when he was moving up. ‘Izzy’ went as far as to say that he Pereira to end his career on a high note, continuing his dominant run in the UFC.

“I’m so happy with what he’s doing right now. I f***ing fought him four times. Every time I fought him I knew I could get him, till he got me. And then now here we are. I hope he retires killing these dudes. I told him good luck, when he went up to 205… I was like good luck,” he said.

Pereira, of course, moved up last year, mainly because he had to put his body through hell to make the 185-pound middleweight limit. The reigning light heavyweight walks around in the range of 230-240 pounds and thus had to cut nearly a fourth of his body weight to make 185! But since he has been gone, the middleweight division, once dominated by Adesanya, has seen big changes, starting with Adesanya losing his title unceremoniously last year.

Israel Adesanya is just another contender after UFC 305 loss

Without a doubt, the biggest humiliation Israel Adesanya suffered was losing his title to Sean Strickland last year. Possibly the biggest upset in UFC history, not only did Strickland beat Adesanya, but ‘Tarzan’ did it for virtually every second of the full twenty-five minutes of their UFC 293 clash. A quick knockout might have been better for ‘Izzy’ since his clash with Strickland, whom virtually no one expected to win and the Kiwi had trash-talked to the moon and back, proved who the better fighter was. At the very least on that night.

This prompted the former champ to go on a hiatus from fighting in an attempt to recover from the many niggles and minor injuries he had been carrying, not to mention the trauma Strickland undoubtedly gave him. And since he has been a great champion, Adesanya’s first fight after the break was for the middleweight title. Against a man whom he personally hated.

Set to face reigning champ Dricus Du Plessis on UFC 305 after feuding for over a year, the stage was set for the triumphant return of the middleweight division’s prodigal son. And Adesanya did deliver, showing flashes of his vintage self that once seemed invincible. But ‘DDP’ is nothing if not tenacious and bullheaded and successfully submitted ‘Izzy’ in the fourth round.

Now Adesanya is reduced to being just another contender, which he is not used to, having won the UFC title just over a year after joining the promotion. But it is good to see that despite his own recent setbacks, ‘Izzy’ has the magnanimity and strength of character to be happy for his biggest rival’s successes. What are your thoughts on Adesanya’s comments about Du Plessis?