Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Israel Adesanya (red gloves) and Alex Pereira (blue gloves) after their UFC 281 bout at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

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Should Israel Adesanya Finally Train With Alex Pereira To Revive His UFC Career?

Could teaming up with Alex Pereira help Israel Adesanya revitalize his UFC career and unlock new potential?

Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Israel Adesanya (red gloves) and Alex Pereira (blue gloves) after their UFC 281 bout at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

MMA has seen its share of unlikely alliances as the fight game has a funny way of turning bitter rivals into training partners. Now, as Israel Adesanya faces the toughest stretch of his career, an unexpected lifeline might come from the man who haunted him across two sports – Alex Pereira.

Their story spans years, continents, and multiple combat sports, making them one of the most compelling rivalries in combat sports history. These two fought a whopping 4 times in total. This is totally unheard of. While Alex Pereira got the better of him in the first three fights, Israel Adesanya got back with a final KO in their last fight.

Alex Pereira knocks out Israel Adesanya.

Izzy was out on his feet.#UFC281 pic.twitter.com/XQNFnzngJv
— GreenMan (@GreenManTalks) November 13, 2022

While many fighters would revel in their former rival’s downfall, Pereira has shown remarkable sportsmanship towards Adesanya’s recent struggles. The Brazilian knockout artist, who defeated Izzy twice in kickboxing and once in MMA before losing their final encounter, seems to have developed a respect for his former foe that transcends their competitive history. This evolution from bitter enemies to potential training partners mirrors the sport’s unique ability to forge bonds through shared combat.

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Alex Pereira’s Show of Support

Just before Israel Adesanya’s fight with Nassourdine Imavov in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Pereira did something that caught many fans off guard. He publicly supported his former rival. Taking to X, Poatan posted a simple but powerful message:

“Let’s go Izzy.”

Let’s go Izzy #UFCSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/CzIqCTH2LU
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) February 1, 2025

This gesture, coming from someone who once seemed like Adesanya’s career nemesis, showed how far their relationship has evolved from those tension-filled days of their rivalry. He has been vocal about his appreciation and respect for the guy he fought 4 times!

Alex Pereia Trained Sean Strickland For The Middleweight Title

Fans have to consider Alex Pereira’s role in Sean Strickland’s shocking victory over Israel Adesanya. While ‘Poatan’ has been clear that Strickland’s success was his own doing, their training sessions together clearly gave him insight into what it would take to defeat ‘The Last Stylebender.’

The punch in the first round that dropped Izzy was classic Pereira. ‘Poatan’s’ actions translated into Sean Strickland’s preparation for this fight, and he finally got the win over a striking legend. This makes the potential of Pereira helping Adesanya even more intriguing. Who better to help rebuild a fighter than someone who both defeated and studied how to defeat him?

Alex Pereira Stays Open To The Idea Of Training With Izzy!

Recently, Pereira has expressed openness to training with Adesanya, suggesting that their shared experiences could create something special. Coming from a man who moved up to light heavyweight and captured gold there, this offer carries significant weight. His understanding of both striking and how to evolve in MMA could be exactly what Israel Adesanya needs to rediscover his form.

As for Adesanya, he has never responded to this invitation from his former rival. However, given his loss at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov in Saudi Arabia, this would be a good thing to consider. If Pereira can turn Sean Strickland (who was considered a journeyman) into championship material, then he, who was a 2-time champion, would definitely benefit from training with the Brazilian.

The potential collaboration between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya would be more than just a training partnership. It would be a full-circle moment for one of UFC’s greatest rivalries. Their story, which began in kickboxing rings and reached its peak in the UFC octagon, could add an unexpected chapter of redemption.

For Adesanya, working with the man who first exposed his vulnerabilities might be the key to fixing them. And for fans, seeing these two striking masters working together would be like watching Thor and Loki from the Marvel universe finally team up. This woud be a partnership that could either save or further complicate an already fascinating saga!

(Image Credit: Jessica Alcheh – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Israel Adesanya

Sean Strickland

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!