WATCH: Israel Adesanya shares clips from an intense sparring session ahead of Alex Pereira fight at UFC 281
Follow Us
Adesanya was seen participating in a hard sparring session
Israel Adesanya’s sparring sessions are a thing of beauty. The fighter has been criticized for the lack of action in his most recent fights however his sparring sessions can attest to the fact that it is by no fault of his own. As he prepares for his upcoming fight against Alex Pereira, his “I’m ready to die” attitude in the ring seems to be on full display.
In a recent post to his Instagram Stories, Adesanya can be seen participating in a hard sparring session with one of his training partners. In the nearly minute-long clip, Adesanya can be seen working, not at range but instead inside the pocket where both fighters exchange significant shots.
Adesanya who’s a very skilled counterpuncher allows his opponent to charge at him and start working his counters on the inside. However as the opponent is significantly shorter than him, it can’t be said that he’s the ideal partner to prepare for a fight against Alex Pereira.
Pereira will be Adesanya’s first opponent in MMA to have the same stature as him, standing at 6’4 however he still has a one-inch reach disadvantage against the Kiwi. The two will fight for the undisputed middleweight title in November.
What’s next for Israel Adesanya after UFC 281?
If Adesanya manages to beat Pereira at UFC 281, the only place left for him to go is up. Rather literally, Adesanya would have to move up a weight class to find significant competition. His recent photos display a significant bulk in his physique possibly hinti g at a future move to the 205 division.
His first expedition to 205 was abruptly halted by Jan Blachowicz who defeated him via a unanimous decision. Since then he has not expressed immediate interest in giving the title a second try.
Currently, the 205-belt is held by Jiri Prochazka, a fellow striker. While the bout would have been one everyone wanted to see, since they’re both managed by Paradigm Sports, it is highly unlikely they face off.
Adesanya has however stated multiple times of his wish to become a double champion before he closes the door on his MMA career. He has opted Jon Jones to be an ideal opponent for his 205 venture but since Jones seems to have completed his bulk up to heavyweight that seems highly unlikely now.
Stay Updated!
Jerin Mathew
(713 Articles Published)