The rivalry between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira dates back to their kickboxing days. The two fighters have faced each other thrice before in their combat career. Pereira has come out on top on all three occasions. However, it was Adesanya who gained mainstream recognition and fame after transitioning to MMA and winning the UFC middleweight championship in 2019.

Their first MMA bout at UFC 281 was highly anticipated. Both fighters are regarded as two of the best strikers in the UFC. However, Pereira delivered an unexpected TKO in the third round, becoming the first middleweight fighter to defeat Adesanya in MMA. This loss was a shock to many, and Adesanya is now looking to avenge it at UFC 287.

Israel Adesanya is shocked to be the favorite

Despite Pereira‘s previous victories over Adesanya, the latter is the favorite heading into the rematch. However, Adesanya himself expressed surprise at being the favorite, citing Pereira‘s devastating knockout power as a significant threat.

“I am surprised they actually picked me as a favorite because I am the more polished fighter, but he is just the guy that’s got the tools. He’s got that nuke. Only a few fighters in history have got that.”

Fan’s reactions to Adesanya‘s statement have been mixed. Some fans have praised him for his honesty and willingness to acknowledge the danger that Pereira poses.

Others have criticized him, pointing out that he was out struck by Pereira in their previous fight. Here are some of the fan reactions.

One sarcastically said – “We’re all surprised. You’re 0 for 3”

Another one pointed out – “Crazy bc even if he does get it done this time, it’d still be 3-1. I wouldn’t be satisfied by that in a series of rock paper scissors, I cant imagine how an elite competitor like Izzy would feel about that.”

One said – “I respect Izzy for how candid he is with this situation. He’s made no excuses and is just ready to try and beat Pereira.”

“He was outstriking you lol”

Read More – Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira: How Have the Rivals Fared in the UFC and Kickboxing

One joked and said – “we’ll make sure you’re an underdog by fight day”

Another wrote – “Lol, am i old when i remember the time everyone liked Izzy?”

Another person commented – “Jokes aside. This fight will always gonna be close. Two very elite strikers. Poatan could be 10-0 , still Izzy would make it tough. Hands down.”

Adesanya vs Pereira at UFC 281

Adesanya was the expected favorite in the UFC 281 main event. ‘The Last Stylebender’ dominated the fight in the first round. He almost KO’ed Alex Pereira at the end of the first round. However, Pereira made a comeback in the second round by landing some amazing strikes. Adesanya regained dominance later, as all three judges awarded the third round to Adesanya.

Pereira displayed some amazing moves in the fourth round. But according to the official scorecard, Adesanya won that round as well. However, ‘Poatan’ finished the fight in the fifth round by delivering a powerful combination of punches to Adesanya. The combination resulted in Adesanya getting TKOed.

Watch This Story – Alex Pereira Warns Adesanya

Regardless of fan opinion, it is clear that the Adesanya-Pereira rematch will be an exciting and closely contested fight. Both fighters are elite strikers with a proven track records, and their styles are well-matched.