Glover Teixeira Compares Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya to Ali vs. Frazier

Glover Teixeira coach of Alex Pereira thinks the rivalry between Alex and Israel Adesanya is like rivalry between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazie.

Glover Teixeira Compares Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya to Ali vs. Frazier

Glover Teixeira and Alex Pereira- (Image via. ESPN)

This weekend (Saturday, April 8th, 2023) in Miami, Florida, there will be a big main event rematch in the UFC. Glover Teixeira, a former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, sees some comparisons between this fight and some historic rivalries in boxing.

Glover Teixeira shared his thoughts with The Schmo. Teixeira, who used to be the UFC Light Heavyweight champion, recently compared the upcoming rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya to the legendary boxing match-up between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Teixeira thinks the two fighters have what it takes to bring back the excitement of a true battle for the fans.

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 “They are a great match up like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. They bring back the fight for the fans. Everybody wants to see it. I mean, it’s hard to say [if they’ll fight again]. I think if Alex wins again, that should be the last time. Done.”

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The fight is for the UFC Middleweight championship. The new champion, Alex Pereira, will try to defend his title for the first time against the former champion, Israel Adesanya. This will be the fourth time the two fighters meet, having fought twice in kickboxing and once in mixed martial arts (MMA). Pereira has won all three previous matches.

Related: “Motivated me so much,” Alex Pereira reveals Israel Adesanya’s trash-talking motivated him to join UFC

Glover Teixeira thinks this time will be more physical as compared to the last 3 matches

Israel Adesanya and ALex Pereira Ali vs Frazier (Image source UFC/Howtheyplay)

Just like in the Ali-Frazier rivalry, where Frazier was the first man to defeat Ali, but Ali then made the right changes to come back and win their next two fights, Teixeira expects Israel Adesanya to make significant adjustments in his approach for the upcoming rematch.

Teixeira has been helping Pereira prepare for the fight, as Pereira’s coach. Teixeira believes that the rivalry between these two Middleweights is now just as intense as one of the most famous trilogies in boxing history. Although he is not sure whether they will fight again after this rematch, he believes that if Pereira wins again, it should be the last fight between the two.

According to Teixeira, Alex will likely fight in a similar manner as before, but with more pressure and attacks. He is already skilled in applying pressure that is difficult to stop. Adesanya, on the other hand, is the one who may need to make changes since he lost his last fight and knows that standing up against Alex is a challenge. It is possible that Adesanya will try to use more grappling techniques in the upcoming fight.

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