Rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira heart-warming collab melts fans’ hearts: “This man does not hold a grudge”

Former UFC middleweight champions and rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira were seated together, enjoying the UFC 312 event.

Rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira heart-warming collab melts fans’ hearts: “This man does not hold a grudge”

Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira sitting together at UFC 312 (Image via X/@stylebender)

Over the years, the UFC community has witnessed numerous intriguing rivalries, some of which have intensified while others have resolved their differences. Many of these rivalries continue to fuel animosity among the fighters involved. However, this is not true for Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya. Their recent photos together serve as a clear example of their reconciled relationship.

The Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, hosted UFC 312. The fight card features a range of exciting matchups, with the main event set to be the UFC middleweight championship bout between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland. Notably, Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, who have significantly impacted the 185-pound division, attended the event.

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However, seeing both Adesanya and Pereira sitting together at the UFC 312 PPV event warmed the hearts of many fans. Their rivalry dates back to 2016 during their GLORY kickboxing days. This tension carried over into the UFC when Adesanya solidified his reign in the division, and Pereira made his debut. The duo faced off against each other on two occasions in the promotion and both fights were a spectacle.

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In their first encounter at UFC 281, Pereira, then a rising star, challenged Adesanya for the middleweight title and defeated him decisively. However, their second matchup marked a dramatic turnaround as the Nigerian-born Kiwi fighter responded effectively. The UFC 287 PPV event saw Adesanya silencing his critics with a counter victory over the Brazilian MMA fighter. Following that fight, the two eventually resolved their differences and reconciled.

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Fight fans react to Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira enjoying the UFC 312 event together

Interestingly, Alex Pereira isn’t the only former rival with whom Israel Adesanya has reconciled and put animosity aside. Most recently, another former opponent of ‘Izzy’, Robert Whittaker, was seen sharing positive moments with the Nigerian-born Kiwi fighter. The two even appeared to train together ahead of Adesanya’s last fight in Saudi Arabia.

Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira in action at UFC 281 and UFC 287
Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira in action at UFC 281 and UFC 287 (Image via MMA Fighting/The Mirror)

Due to Adesanya’s popularity and reputation in the UFC community, fight fans quickly reacted to his pictures with Pereira. A large group of netizens flooded the former UFC middleweight champion’s post, acknowledging his sportsmanship. Check out some of the reactions below.

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Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya

Many fight fans are eager to see more collaborations between Adesanya and Pereira. Interestingly, the Nigerian-born Kiwi fighter has already decided on potential future training sessions with the UFC light heavyweight champion. Now, it remains to be seen when these sessions will come to fruition.

Related: Alex Pereira Fight Record: How many defeats does “Poatan” have in his career?