Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Israel Adesanya (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

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Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira Head to Head: Who Holds The Advantage In The Overall Match-Ups?

Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira Head-to-Head: Know Who Holds the Edge in Their Rivalry and Match-Ups In Combat Sports?

Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Israel Adesanya (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Combat sports fans have witnessed some legendary rivalries over the years – Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz, Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor and Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier. But there’s something uniquely compelling about the Israel Adesanya-Alex Pereira feud that sets it apart.

It’s a tale that transcends multiple combat sports disciplines, continents, and even personal growth. From the kickboxing rings to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden in the UFC, these two warriors have crafted a story that spans nearly a decade!

Also Read: UFC Fight Night Adesanya vs. Imavov Predictions, Picks and Betting Odds

Starting Of The Rivalry In GLORY

The future rivals would have their first encounter back in 2016 at Glory of Heroes 1. This set the stage for what would become one of combat sports’ most compelling narratives. At the time, Israel Adesanya was riding high on an 11-fight win streak in kickboxing, looking practically untouchable, until he met the man who would become his nemesis. Alex Pereira took that first victory by decision, but it was just the beginning.

Their rematch at Glory of Heroes 7 in Brazil the following year produced one of kickboxing’s most viral moments. Alex Pereira’s left hook (which he is still famous for) sent Adesanya into dreamland so badly that he needed oxygen assistance afterward. Talk about a rough night!

Fighter	Kickboxing Record	MMA Record	Height
Alex Pereira	33-7	10-1	6’3
Israel Adesanya	75-5	24-4	6’3

Moving On To The Big Leagues- The UFC

Israel Adesanya made his UFC debut in 2018. He showcased his skills in the Octagon, dominating opponent after opponent in the middleweight division. He finally became the champion in October of 2019 after he defeated Robert Whittaker. Meanwhile, his nemesis, Alex Pereira also crossed over to the UFC in 2021. He continued his reign of dominance, knocking fighters out left and right, and as such, the time for a reunion wa upon these old rivals.

Their rivalry took an even more dramatic turn when both men found their way to the UFC’s octagon. In November 2022, Pereira once again played spoiler to Adesanya’s success story. He snatched the middleweight crown from ‘The Last Stylebender’ at UFC 281 with a fifth-round TKO that had fans on their feet.

Alex Pereira knocks out Israel Adesanya.

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

However, Israel Adesanya was not one to give up easily. He finally got his revenge at UFC 287 in April 2023, delivering a highlight-reel knockout that evened the MMA score at 1-1. Their overall record stands at 3-1 in Alex Pereira’s favor across both sports, but numbers don’t tell the whole story. Since their last meeting, both fighters’ paths have diverged dramatically.

April 8 – UFC 287

Israel Adesanya defeats Alex Pereira via KO (Counter Right) in the 2nd

Izzy gets his revenge and wins back the Middleweight Championship. One of the greatest celebrations in sports history

This should win an ESPY pic.twitter.com/RVOttUlP6L
— The Octagon Obsessed (@octagonobsessed) June 19, 2023

Alex Pereira moved up to light heavyweight and claimed gold by stopping Jiri Prochazka. He has since defended it three times. Israel Adesanya shockingly lost his reclaimed middleweight title to Sean Strickland and again lost the title fight to Dricus Du Plessis.

Event	Date	WInner
Glory of Heroes 1	April 2, 2016	Alex Pereira via UD
Glory of Heroes 7	March 4, 2017	Alex Pereira via KO
UFC 281	November 12, 2022	Alex Pereira via TKO
UFC 287	April 8, 2023	Israel Adesanya via KO

Will There Be A Trilogy Fight Between Israel Adesanya And Alex Pereira?

Fans would love to see these two duke it out one more time in the Octagon. Getting an edge in the MMA score would be something to talk about for years to come. However, this hypothetical fight is likely not going to happen, given the circumstances.

Alex Pereira moved to light heavyweight and is currently the defending champion. He is set to take on Magomed Ankalaev next month at UFC 313. Moreover, he has no plans on cutting back to middleweight as he is eyeing heavyweight next.

As for Israel Adesanya, he has been on a slump lately, losing his last two fights. He is set to take on Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. This fight will determine if he can still dance with the best of the middleweight division. And he has no plans on moving up to light heavyweight either!

Conclusion

The rivalry between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira has had everything: knockouts, technical battles, title changes, and a lot of twists. While Pereira had called for another showdown, fans might have to wait quite a while ( probably won’t happen ever) to see chapter five of this epic saga.

But this is MMA, and anything can happen. And, if fans have learned something from their four battles, when these two meet, the predictions and analysis go out the window and magic happens in the cage!

(Image Credit: Rich Storry – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Israel Adesanya

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!