12 November 2023 , 06:17
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Israel Adesanya has fired back at Alex Pereira for calling him out after winning the light-heavyweight title at UFC 295.
Pereira knocked out Jiri Prochazka at Madison Square Garden in New York to become just the 9th two-weight UFC world champion. The Brazilian stopped Prochazka in the second round with a string of elbows and despite many fans believing the fight was stopped too early, Prochazka didn't protest the finish and admitted he was unconscious.
Adesanya's name was brought up by Pereira in his post-fight interview as he called for their trilogy fight. "I'm not the type of guy to call people out but there is a guy that back in the day said that I was going to be someone who stayed in a bar. That motivated me and he rescued me from a bar to be here today," Pereira said.
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"That guy said he says he wants to come back in 2027, I think it’s a waste of talent so I want to rescue him too and come back to fight. It's a guy that I have a history with so hey Adesanya, come to daddy."
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Adesanya tweeted a picture of Pereira unconscious from their UFC 287 rematch in April with the caption: "Lol rent free, I sleep good. Let it go." Pereira knocked out Adesanya last November to win the middleweight title, with 'The Last Stylebender' evening the scores between the pair in their second fight.
The rivalry between Adesanya and Pereira dates back to when they first fought in kickboxing over six years ago. Pereira won a controversial decision against Adesanya and brutally knocked him out in their second fight. Adesanya then crossed over to MMA whilst Pereira reigned on top in kickboxing before signing for the UFC in 2021.
Adesanya was forced to eat his words after predicting Prochazka would beat Pereira as he said on his YouTube channel: "I'm going Jiri Prochazka. It doesn't go the distance.. These middleweights should get on their f****ng knees and thank me, because I got this man out of there. If not , you'd have to deal with him over and over again, all of you. I doubt any of you would wanna f****ng fight this guy."