UFC 287 will go down as one of the biggest UFC pay-per-views in recent memory. So many memorable moments occurred at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida today. The raucous crowd said goodbye to hometown hero, Jorge Masvidal after he lost to Gilbert Burns. But the biggest moment came when Israel Adesanya finally enacted his long-awaited revenge on his bitter rival, Alex Pereira, and reclaimed his title.
Alex Pereira held a 3-0 record against the Last Stylebender after UFC 281 by knocking Israel Adesanya out in the fifth round. With both fighters completely spent, Poatan let it all go after he got Adesanya up against the cage. Izzy got caught with some of Pereira’s devastating punches and Marc Goddard saw it fit to call off the fight. But this time Pereira blundered by rushing in, as Adesanya, neither tired nor hurt, capitalized by knocking out Poatan.
Crowd reaction to Israel Adesanya KO’ing Alex Pereira at UFC 287 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/sn6LM7Lfs1
— XcellentMMA (@XcellentMMA) April 9, 2023
In the second round, Izzy baited Pereira by playing possum and acting as if the leg kicks in the earlier round had taken their toll. Once Pereira started to unload, Izzy used his elite counterstriking to knock out his bitter rival. Joe Rogan addressed Adesanya’s tactics, saying, “Pereira was pressing with his hands down thinking that Stylebender was tired, but Stylebender was playing possum. Maybe Pereira got overconfident.”
With this picture-perfect knockout, Adesanya now finally has a win over Alex Pereira in combat sports. As for Alex, this mistake proves the narrative about him being too inexperienced for the UFC’s elite. Being able to capitalize on his rival’s blunder using his game plan to finish the fight, must make this victory sweeter for Stylebender. And while celebrating his triumph, Izzy showed that he isn’t one to forget.
Israel Adesanya mocks Alex Pereira’s son
After Pereira knocked Adesanya out for the first time in Glory, Alex’s son entered the ring and imitated Izzy getting knocked out. He brutally mocked Adesanya and many fans brought it up after Alex knocked out Adesanya at UFC 281. However, just like the internet, Israel Adesanya doesn’t forget.
Crowd reaction to Israel Adesanya KO’ing Alex Pereira at UFC 287 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/sn6LM7Lfs1
— XcellentMMA (@XcellentMMA) April 9, 2023
After winning back his middleweight crown, as he celebrated his win, Adesanya noticed Alex’s son. Upon seeing him, Israel Adesanya went stiff and flopped around on the floor. This is what exactly Pereira’s son did back in Glory to make fun of the man his father knocked out.
But the new UFC middleweight champion doing this is the height of pettiness and quintessentially him. He also mocked Poatan’s signature symbolic shooting of the bow over his rival’s unconscious body. UFC 287 was undoubtedly one of the best nights in Israel Adesanya’s UFC career.