Rivals No More? Alex Pereira Backs Israel Adesanya Before UFC Seattle!
Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya share one of the most compelling rivalries in combat sports history. Their battles began in kickboxing where Pereira defeated Adesanya twice during their GLORY days. The rivalry carried over to MMA when Pereira followed Adesanya to the UFC years later. Pereira stunned the world by knocking out Adesanya in the fifth round at UFC 281 to capture the middleweight championship. But Adesanya got revenge at UFC 287 with a spectacular second-round knockout that reclaimed his title. Since then, both fighters have taken different paths with Pereira conquering light heavyweight and now eyeing heavyweight gold.
Israel Adesanya faces a critical moment in his career this Saturday at UFC Seattle against Joe Pyfer. The former champion has suffered three straight losses and hasn’t won a fight in nearly three years. His 24-5 record still looks impressive, but momentum has completely abandoned him during this losing streak. But now, Pereira took to social media to wish his former rival well ahead of the main event.
Alex Pereira Credits Israel Adesanya For His Growth
Alex Pereira’s message to Israel Adesanya surprised many fans expecting continued trash talk between the former rivals. Instead, Pereira reflected on how their rivalry helped shape his journey to becoming a champion. He specifically mentioned that his loss to Adesanya at UFC 287 taught him valuable lessons about evolution.
“Saturday is fight night once again. Much respect to Israel Adesanya—we’ve shared the octagon and moments that became part of my journey. That loss taught me a lot; it pushed me to evolve not only as a fighter, but as a man. I grew, matured, and used it as fuel to reach a higher level in the sport and in life. “Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there—the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice. That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best. We keep evolving. See you at the top, CHAMA.”
Pereira continued by acknowledging the sacrifices required to compete at the highest levels of MMA. He recognized the years of work, pressure, and dedication that go into every fight regardless of outcomes. That understanding comes from someone who’s walked the same difficult path as a champion himself.
The message reveals genuine respect between two fighters whose careers have been intertwined since kickboxing. It gave Adesanya closure on their rivalry while providing Pereira motivation to move forward.
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Adesanya Has Also Shown Respect For Pereira
Israel Adesanya previously revealed that their rivalry was never personal despite the intensity of their battles. He went as far as saying he hopes Pereira never loses another fight. Adesanya even stated he hopes Pereira retires undefeated, which is remarkable coming from someone he’s fought four times across two sports.
That mutual respect explains why Pereira’s message feels genuine rather than strategic mind games before a potential rematch. Pereira is currently preparing to face Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title at the UFC White House card. His career is moving forward at full speed, yet he still paused to acknowledge Adesanya.
Adesanya needs this UFC Seattle main event against Joe Pyfer desperately. Three straight losses have damaged his standing significantly in the middleweight division. If Adesanya loses again, his career could spiral toward retirement discussions rather than title shot conversations.
(Image Credit: Fighters Only)
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