Israel Adesanya prepares to fight Sean Strickland (not pictured) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Israel Adesanya Gets The Biggest Training Invite Yet From Former Rival That Might Break The Internet!

Former rival extends a surprising training invite to Israel Adesanya after UFC 312, sparking speculation of a future collaboration!

Israel Adesanya prepares to fight Sean Strickland (not pictured) during UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

Fighting each other in MMA can transform bitter rivalries into mutual respect. After all, you are going against someone who has the same goals and aspirations, except they are on the opposite sides. This is the case with Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. Their history runs deep and complex, stretching back to their kickboxing days when Pereira held two victories over Adesanya, including a knockout win that became infamous in combat sports circles.

When both fighters transitioned to the UFC, their rivalry only intensified, with Pereira again defeating Adesanya to claim the middleweight title in 2022. Adesanya finally got his redemption with a knockout victory in their fourth encounter in 2023.

Also Read: UFC 236 Slugfest Gets Inducted In 2025 UFC Hall Of Fame Class

Alex Pereira’s Invitation

Seeing these two warriors sitting side by side at UFC 312 in Sydney would have been unthinkable just a couple of years ago. Pereira, who has since moved up to light heavyweight and captured gold in that division, was there to support Sean Strickland in his middleweight title bout against Dricus du Plessis.

During their interaction, Alex Pereira made a remarkable gesture, suggesting they train together and learn from each other’s styles. Adesanya accepted the gesture and claimed that they would make it happen.

“Let’s get together, let’s make this partnership happen. I have a lot to show you and you have a lot to show me.”

Adesanya, who recently spoke with Ariel Helwani, acknowledged Pereira as a “blessing” in his career. This comment showed remarkable growth from their earlier antagonistic relationship.

Israel Adesanya’s Career Trajectory And ‘Poatan’s’ Involvement

After he finally defeated Alex Pereira, Adesanya had a bit of a downfall since then. He lost the belt to Sean Strickland (who trained with Pereira) in a major upset. The American defensive fighter dominated him for the entirety of the fight, a feat that no one had thought was possible. Then came his fight with Dricus Du Plessis for a chance to become a 3-time middleweight champion. He lost that fight via submission. His recent loss was against Nassourdine Imavov at Saudi Arabia, where he lost via TKO.

Considering his losses, training with Alex Pereira would be a boon to him. It seems that the middleweight division has cracked Adesanya’s code, but Pereira’s style still remains a mystery. Training with the guy who beat him 3 times could be what ‘The Last Stylebender’ needs right now. The Brazilian’s devastating left hook meeting Adesanya’s masterful distance control in a training environment could create some truly magical moments for both fighters’ development!

(Image Credit: Rich Storry – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Israel Adesanya

UFC 312

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!