Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker answer if any BAD BLOOD exists between City Kickboxings’s Israel Adesanya and rival Alex Pereira

The UFC 303 pay-per-view goes down Saturday, with Alex Pereira defending his gold in the top-bill. Old rival Israel Adesanya's closest buddies interviewed him in the meantime.

Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker answer if any BAD BLOOD exists between City Kickboxings’s Israel Adesanya and rival Alex Pereira

Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker touch on the Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya rivalry (Source: IMAGO/Instagram)

Saturday’s title main event is edging closer and closer. Jiri Prochazka meets Alex Pereira once again at UFC 303. Ahead of the pay-per-view title rematch, fighters and pundits have been inviting them for media availability rounds. In one of the rounds, the Brazilian’s rivalry with Israel Adesanya came into purview. Close friends and Aussie duo – Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker pitched in.

Alex Pereira attended a Zoom call with Niko Pajarillo, Dan Hooker, and Alexander Volkanovski during the Fox Sports Preview Show. After the talks, the group had a mickey over Volk and the ‘Hangman’ being friends with Israel Adesanya. However, the 34-year-old lightweight nudges Pereira has a deep respect for the Nigerian standout out of City Kickboxing NZ.

No, not at all. I mean him and...[Adesanya] there's just so much respect. Between him and Israel. They obviously hugged it out after, uh, their last fight...And Pereira even invited him to come and train. Definitely no bad blood...
Dan Hooker during the Fox Sports’ mainevent Preview Show (@mainevent)
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‘Poatan‘ defeated him at UFC 281, who snagged the undisputed gold back at UFC 287 via a 2nd-round KO. Pereira is a sum total of 3-1 over Israel Adesanya in MMA and GLORY Kickboxing. After their second scrap, the duo amicably hugged it out. Hooker and Volk also presented that he offered to bury the hatchet and train with Adesanya.

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They are just rivals right...like you are always gonna back people you know, and your teammates. That's just the case there...It's the same with Max and myself with our 'rivalry'..you know, there's gonna be some words here and there...competitive rivals. But, nothing but respect.
Alexander Volkanovski during the Fox Sports’ mainevent Preview Show (@mainevent)
https://twitter.com/GladiatorHub/status/1780589704506720508

During his UFC 300 Q&A session with Megan Olivi, Pereira touted unrelenting support for ‘Stylebender.’ He even said his talent was wasted on such a lapse. Adesanya often catches heat for touting his knockout win over him, but even he respects him as a special fighter. ‘The Great’ even cites his scraps with Max Holloway to compare that things between such fighters can get highly competitive. But doesn’t mean the respect waivers.

City Kickboxing vs. Alex Pereira: Dan Hooker hopeful a stablemate will defeat ‘Poatan’ someday

Dan Hooker and Alexander Volkanovski’s media round interview touched on an age-old saga. Can City Kickboxing ever triumph over Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira? Ever since their Glory Of Heroes 1: Shenzhen days, Israel Adesanya has been the only one to do it after four encounters. He is the only one who can boast a win over Pereira, who’s on a 7-1 streak since joining the UFC in 2021.

CKB's Dan Hooker notes some interesting prepping for Alex Pereira
CKB’s Dan Hooker notes some interesting prepping for Alex Pereira (Source: tmz.com/UFC.go.com/X)

Before UFC 303 saw a revamp for the Nth time, #11 ranked light-heavyweight and City Kickboxing NZ stablemate Carlos Ulberg was part of the card. He was looking to meet the #3 ranked former champion Jamahal Hill on International Fight Week. Since then, both are out. But if Ulberg was to proceed accordingly, a win against Hill on June 29 could see him make the debate for title shots.

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Underdog contenders are all the rage. Australia’s own Steve Erceg came inch-close to a massive upset over divisional champion Alexandre Pantoja at the UFC 301 PPV. Speaking to Sky Sports New Zealand, Hooker said the team found it exciting and were prepping for camps in place to get ready for Pereira.

Ulberg recently picked up his sixth straight, stopping Alonzo Menifield in just 12 seconds at UFC Fight Night St. Louis. While Ulberg is currently out, he did voice resolves of facing Pereira soon someday. According to Hooker, even Izzy got the bumps at such an idea. Assuming the champion doesn’t lose his strap before that, this can prove an exciting matchup if Ulberg reaches the top.

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