Israel Adesanya reacts to Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 6 Cover with Viral Meme from The Boys

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has a hilarious reaction to Alex Pereira's UFC 6 game cover.

Israel Adesanya reacts to Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 6 Cover with Viral Meme from The Boys

Israel Adesanya reacts to Alex Pereira's UFC 6 cover (via X, UFC)

In Short
  • Israel Adesanya humorously reacted to Alex Pereira's UFC 6 cover featuring part of his shoulder from their first fight.
  • Pereira and Adesanya's rivalry has evolved into a respectful relationship despite their competitive history.
  • Adesanya has faced multiple recent losses, raising concerns about his career trajectory and legacy in MMA.

Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have shared one of MMA’s most entertaining rivalries, spanning multiple disciplines. Their rivalry began in GLORY Kickboxing before transitioning into the UFC, where they delivered brutal championship fights. However, the rivalry has since evolved into a cordial relationship built on mutual respect, with Adesanya also recently humorously reacting to Pereira’s UFC 6 game cover.

Under GLORY Kickboxing, Pereira defeated Adesanya twice, first by unanimous decision in 2016 and then by a knockout in their 2017 rematch, establishing early dominance in their rivalry. Their feud later transitioned to the UFC, where ‘Poatan’ secured a TKO victory at UFC 281 to win the middleweight title. However, Adesanya answered back with a decisive knockout win at UFC 287 to reclaim the championship.

The UFC 6 covers were recently released, with Pereira featured on the Standard Edition and former champion Max Holloway appearing on the Ultimate Edition. However, as noticed by Adesanya, the image used for Pereira traces back to their first fight, with part of Adesanya’s shoulder still visible in the frame. He reacted by referencing a viral meme of Chace Crawford, who plays The Deep in The Boys TV Series.

Who you know been on the cover 3 times? CHAMAAA!

Israel Adesanya via X

Adesanya has already been featured twice on UFC video game covers, reflecting his status as one of the sport’s biggest stars. He first appeared alongside former welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal on the cover of UFC 4, marking a major milestone in his career. He later made the deluxe edition cover of UFC 5, while Alexander Volkanovski and Valentina Shevchenko were featured on the standard edition.

Pereira and Adesanya have grown increasingly cordial in recent times, showing mutual respect despite their rivalry. The Brazilian star even posted a clip of his knockout loss to Adesanya to build hype for the Stylebender’s return against Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle, a bout he ultimately lost via TKO, marking his fourth straight defeat. Adesanya has also acknowledged and praised Pereira’s career trajectory across divisions.

Alex Pereira’s inclusion on the UFC 6 cover underscores how significant he has become in a relatively short time. He is now set to face Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 for the interim heavyweight title, aiming to secure a third divisional championship and further elevate his legacy. Israel Adesanya is still closely tied to his journey through their rivalry, which highlights their lasting impact on the sport.

UFC veteran reveals why Israel Adesanya’s career trajectory is worrying

Israel Adesanya was once one of the most dominant middleweight champions, with his run raising questions about who could compete with him. His striking and title defenses set him apart during his peak. However, in recent years, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has suffered multiple losses while trying to return to the win column, with his last victory coming against Alex Pereira in 2023.

Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya (via MMA Mania)

Since UFC 287, Israel Adesanya has suffered losses to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov, marking a difficult run after his title reign. His latest setback came against Joe Pyfer via TKO at UFC Seattle, extending his skid. The situation prompted UFC veteran Michael Chiesa to weigh in, as Adesanya continues competing despite the recent setbacks and has not indicated plans to retire.

It makes you wonder how much he had to put in that last fight with Alex Pereira. How much did that take out of him? I hope people don’t forget how great he is. It’s like the B.J. Penn thing. People forget how great B.J. Penn was because of the skid that he went on, and kind of the same thing with Tony Ferguson. I just hope that Izzy doesn’t fall into that category, because he was incredible.

Michael Chiesa via MMA Junkie

B.J. Penn’s later career included legal and mental health issues, bar altercations caught on video, and a prolonged losing streak that impacted his legacy. These controversies overshadowed his achievements as a two-division champion. This is why Michael Chiesa’s comparison to Israel Adesanya is concerning, highlighting the risks of continued competition during a difficult phase.

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