“I support him,” Despite rivalry, Alex Pereira sides with Israel Adesanya getting ‘infinite title shots’

Current champion, Alex Pereira gives his verdict on possible trilogy chances, and if rival Israel Adesanya deserves a shot at the divisional title.

“I support him,” Despite rivalry, Alex Pereira sides with Israel Adesanya getting ‘infinite title shots’

Alex Pereira lauds Israel Adesanya as being worthy of a title shot (Source: IMAGO)

2-division GLORY kickboxing and UFC champ Alex Pereira‘s maiden defense comes at UFC 300. He meets ex-champion, Jamahal Hill on the historic card, the belt’s previous holder. Hill vacated the title after a ruptured Achilles tendon. He suffered the injury during a basketball game during UFC 290 fight week in Las Vegas. Now he tries out his luck against the current champ, on the April card. In light of that, the champ gives his thoughts on former rival Israel Adesanya.

Succeeding Hill vacating his spot and claim to the gold, Pereira bagged the 205lbs title at UFC 295. Before that, he had quite the rivalry going with Israel Adesanya at middleweight. ‘Poatan‘ defeated Adesanya at UFC 281. ‘The Last Stylebender‘ was, however, able to win back the middleweight gold at UFC 287, via a 2nd-round KO. Thus here’s what Pereira thinks of him deserving a title shot – 

[translated] I think he's put in the work. He's done a lot and, you know, it's really up to him if he feels like he needs another fight, then I would support him...And if he's willing to go straight to the belt, then I could support him as well for that.
Alex Pereira at UFC 300 Q&A session, during UFC 299 pre-fight eve (timestamp: 19:14)
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This was in the recent UFC 300 Q&A Session sitdown with ESPN MMA‘s Megan Olivi. The segment also hosted guest fighters Arman Tsarukyan & Kayla Harrison, both of whom fight at UFC 300. The latter drops down to 135 pounds making her promotional debut against Holly Holm. Meanwhile, getting snubbed from title contention, rising 155lber Tsarukyan faces Charles Oliveira on the card.

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2-0 since departing the 185lbs class, Pereira is now eager to bury the hatchet and even train alongside Adesanya. A sentiment he voiced yet again, on training with him, at The MMA Hour (for MMAFighting on SBN). In the same segment, ‘Poatan’ reveled in signing a new 8-fight contract before UFC 300. His current reluctance, however, goes a step further.

Alex Pereira dismisses the notion of making callouts to Israel Adesanya

Alex Pereira is a natural force within the UFC right now. The light heavyweight often goes viral touting his technical blink-and-miss punches. Training videos also see him checking kicks and calf-slicer with his back-leg counter, called the “rabona“. He is also a 1-0 cruiserweight amateur boxer, with a TKO win with Marcelo de Souza Cruz.

He plans to focus on UFC 300's title challenger Jamahal Hill, instead of Israel Adesanya
He plans to focus on UFC 300’s title challenger Jamahal Hill, instead of Israel Adesanya (Source: UFC.go.com)

However, one name in his 9-2-0 stat that should bother him is Israel Adesanya. Adesanya had previously incurred kickboxing and MMA skids against Pereira. Which he subsequently turned around at UFC 287. Adesanya flaunting his KO win against the nemesis is most often dissed by fans as a one-off thing.

Recently though, Pereira has mentioned he is willing to let it all go. However, he isn’t jumping at the chance of calling him out yet another time in vain. That is if he can overcome Jamhal Hill at UFC 300. Here’s what he said, through a translator – 

[On another possible callout] No, I think it needs to happen naturally. I won't push for it anymore. I've talked about it after my last fight...Whatever the organization wants to do, they know what they're doing and I'm not going to push for it.
Alex Pereira at UFC 300 Q&A session, during UFC 299 pre-fight eve (timestamp: 34:01)

He had made several callouts to Israel Adesanya after winning the light-heavyweight title last year. However, with no response, he mentioned in a Q&A in France hosted by Ares FC that he would disengage from further callouts.

Alex Pereira stands steadfast to that. He urges that the trilogy bout if there ever was to be one, should take a natural progression. Currently, he aspires to lay all focus on Jamahal Hill and UFC 300’s title defense.

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