(Video) Former rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira make a real connection at UFC 312, over gummies!
UFC 185-pound mortal rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira go viral sharing gummy, while sitting during the UFC 312 PPV in Sydney.
Follow Us
Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira go viral sharing gummies at UFC 312 (Source: X/YT)
Combat sports history’s great rivals, Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, may be turning over a new leaf. Izzy sat next to the ex-GLORY/ UFC rival Alex Pereira during this past Saturday’s UFC 312 PPV card in Sydney. If anyone in the MMA community were wondering what they were talking about, they are in luck.
That’s because, on Friday, Adesanya released a behind-the-scenes video of his experience on his YouTube channel. With Plinio Cruz serving as interpreter, Israel Adesanya and his foe dapped up quite a lot at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Pereira is currently the reigning light heavyweight champ, and will look to defend a fourth straight time against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 PPV.
That was cool, just sitting next to them, …Whoever set that up, good job. It made for good moments. I think he’s genuine in his offer to get together and make a connect happen, so we’ll make it happen one day.
srael Adesanya on his Official Youtube Channel FREESTYLEBENDER (@FreeStylebender)
Meanwhile, the Kiwi-Nigerian is on a three-fight losing streak, facing his second-ever KO skid to Nassourdine Imavov. A lot would have to align for them to be foes contending against each other again. The trio thus talked about Adesanya’s Riyadh fight night loss to Imavov. “Poatan” even gave him his gummy, a taste of the iconic “Zyn”. Check out the whole sequence below:
“If Pereira gives me a Zyn I’ll take one.”
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) February 14, 2025
Alex Pereira gave Israel Adesanya’s one of his Zyn’s at #UFC312 😅🤝
🎥 @stylebender / YT pic.twitter.com/Xj4QnzZMVE
Alex Pereira posted a selfie video of himself and Adesanya at the cage side. Each fighter played up the fact that he was grilling the camera. Media snaps also went viral, including one showing both smiling. Consequently, “Last Stylebender” has been bending a good share of his previous instincts and patching up with rivals. He explains why.
Israel Adesanya on why he has made peace with enemies
Alex Pereira and Adesanya have met four times: twice in kickboxing and twice in MMA. Pereira is 2-0 against Adesanya in kickboxing. In MMA, however, the two fighters are evenly matched. Despite going the ‘beat that guy one-time‘ route before, Izzy has chosen to drop that routine.
Israel Adesanya also had an ‘organic’ link-up with 185-pound title foe Robert Whittaker a while back. The fighter also called up Kelvin Gastelum, backstage after UFC 312. Their UFC 236 bout at State Farm Arena in Atlanta will be in the Hall of Fame Fight Wing as part of the Class of 2025. Adesanya explained why he’s befriending them now.
With all these guys, what’s hating Alex or hating Rob or anyone else do for me? …It’s just poisoning myself. I’m holding on to hate in my heart for someone that’s moved on….I was even telling Alex before, like I said earlier, this is fighting, you’ve got to be a man about this, …That’s it, cool. I even told Alex, ‘Bro, you beat me in Brazil. That was a fair one, cool. I left you alone. You chased me. So that’s your problem.’ That was his fault… got asked earlier this week about an Imavov rematch. I’m like, why? There’s no need unless down the line something for the belt.
Israel Adesanaya to media scrum during UFC 312 PPV backstage media availability (h/t: The MacLife)
Adesanya sees Imavov, Pereira, and Whittaker as a “beat me or I beat you” fair game. He has had charged-up banters with Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland as well; those rivalries also he has put to bed. Now on a first-time three-loss slump, no one knows what will transpire in Adesanya’s career.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)