Israel Adesanya Has Surprising Wish About Nemesis Alex Pereira’s Career

Two time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya wishes the best for former rival Alex Pereira's future in combat sports.

Israel Adesanya Has Surprising Wish About Nemesis Alex Pereira’s Career

Israel Adesanya praises Alex Pereira (via MMA fighting)

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Israel Adesanya’s rivalry with Alex Pereira stands as one of the most technically layered arcs in modern combat sports. Spanning kickboxing and MMA, it consistently tested striking at the highest level. While their rivalry was fueled by initial bad blood and tension, Adesanya has recently expressed only respect for Pereira’s path. His outlook has shifted toward acknowledging Pereira’s growth and long-term future in the sport.

The rivalry began in Glory Kickboxing, where Pereira defeated ‘Stylebender’ twice, establishing an early competitive advantage. Those results followed them into MMA when Pereira transitioned to the UFC. At UFC 281, ‘Poatan’ knocked out Adesanya to end his dominant middleweight title reign. Adesanya later responded at UFC 287, reclaiming the belt as a two-time champion with a counter right knockout.

After that loss, Pereira moved up to the light heavyweight division to pursue new opportunities. He captured the vacant title by knocking out Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. Pereira later became a two-time light heavyweight champion by stopping Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320. That victory avenged his earlier loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 and contextualized Adesanya’s recent reflections.

For me it was never really about him [Pereira], it was always about me. I knew technically I’m the only one to hurt this man multiple times. I’m so proud of what he’s doing now, two-time light heavyweight champ, he’s back on top now. I hope he never loses. I hope he retires undefeated. It’s not about other people, it was about me, ’cause after he beat me at MSG people were like, ‘Oh, he’ll never fight him again,’ but it was like, Dana, run that back.

Israel Adesanya via Bangtao Muay Thai

Although their fights were marked by intense moments and high stakes, the relationship between Adesanya and Pereira has evolved. Years of shared competition gradually replaced hostility with mutual respect. Both fighters now acknowledge the role the rivalry played in shaping their careers. This shift was most visible when they were seen interacting calmly in the crowd during UFC 312.

There was significant discussion about a potential MMA trilogy to conclude their shared competitive chapter. Such a fight was viewed as a natural resolution to their long-standing rivalry. However, changing divisional circumstances prevented it from materializing. Instead, Pereira extended an invitation for Adesanya to train with him, signaling a collaborative turn rather than continued competition.

Today, Adesanya and Pereira occupy distinctly different positions in their careers. Israel Adesanya remains closely linked to the middleweight division and its future title picture. Alex Pereira has reinvented himself through rapid success at light heavyweight. Their rivalry now serves as a defining chapter rather than a destination. It shaped two elite fighters who have since taken separate paths.

Israel Adesanya wants to be active before closing his MMA chapter

Israel Adesanya’s middleweight title reign firmly established him as one of the greatest fighters in the division’s history. He made his UFC debut in 2018 and rose rapidly through the ranks. In 2019, Adesanya unified the middleweight titles by defeating Robert Whittaker. He maintained championship form across multiple defenses before losing the belt to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya (via GiveMeSport)

Following his championship run, Adesanya has reflected on a shift in priorities as his career progresses. His recent comments point toward a desire to return to the fighting style that defined his early rise. Rather than focusing solely on titles, he has emphasized competition and expression. The remarks come amid a period of reassessment after years spent under championship expectations.

For me, it’s not about belts anymore. I just wanna fight, I just wanna do things like I did on the way to the belt. I still fought really well when I was defending the belt, but I want to fight more freely. I want to try some risky **** like I used to

Israel Adesanya via Bangtao Muay Thai

Israel Adesanya now finds himself on a three-fight losing streak at middleweight. His recent defeats have marked a sharp contrast from his earlier dominance. He was finished in two of his last three outings, suffering stoppage losses to Nassourdine Imavov and Dricus Du Plessis. As his career enters a new phase, the former champion faces pivotal questions about adaptation and longevity.

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