Nick Peet | UFC 287: The Heat Is On!

IN a frustrating time when big fights regularly fail to materialise and champions frequently pursue the path of least resistance, UFC middleweight Israel Adesanya is fearlessly peerless.

In just five years in the UFC, the 33-year-old ‘Last Stylebender’ has won a world title, practically cleaned out a division, dared to be great in another and is averaging a fight every four months.

This weekend, the Kiwi of Nigerian descent headlines UFC 287 in Miami in his 10th consecutive world title fight, taking on the toughest test of his fighting life once more.

Brazilian Alex Pereira has been the thorn in Adesanya’s side across two fighting disciplines.

Their first meeting took place in a kickboxing ring in 2016, which Pereira took via a close points decision.

They rematched in Brazil the following year and this time Adesanya was ahead on the scorecards only to be caught with a lights out left hook in the final round.

It would prove to be his last kickboxing fight. In defeat, Adesanya turned his attention full-time to mixed martial arts and, a year later, he made his UFC debut.

Four performance bonuses in five straight wins followed before he outfought Kelvin Gastelum in 2019 to be crowned Interim middleweight champion.

He upgraded to full champion six months later and in the ensuing years managed five title defences along with an unsuccessful attempt at light-heavyweight gold.

Adesanya’s MMA prowess is built upon his ability to dictate where a fight take place. His defensive grappling skills are honed to ensure opponents must meet him in a kickboxing match, where – inside the Octagon – he was unrivalled.

That was until the past came back to haunt him.

Pereira had his last kickboxing match in September 2021. Two months later, he debuted in the UFC. And his rise has been ever more meteoric than Izzy’s. After all, the UFC had a narrative they could sell.

It took exactly a year and just three wins for ‘Poatan’ (Portuguese for ‘Hands of Stone’) to establish himself as a credible challenger and, at UFC 281 last November, the pair faced off for a third time.

Once again, Adesanya dominated the action and was up three rounds to one on all three judge’s scorecards headlining into the fifth and final round in New York City.

Crazy moment from Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira pic.twitter.com/Kn8TXbWiHb

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) March 31, 2023

Pereira needed another come from behind KO and incredibly found a left hook and right uppercut combination to leave Adesanya flailing against the cage almost defenceless forcing the referee to intervene.

After three losses to his arch nemesis, you’d forgive newly-dethroned Adesanya for wanting to walk away and regroup. To rebuild and pick up some wins elsewhere before coming back for more.

But that’s simply not in the man’s make-up. He’s a champion, with or without the belt, and true champion’s fight for legacy above all else.

Technically, Adesanya is the better mixed martial artist. He’s got greater cage experience, is a more seasoned grappler and is light enough on his feet to dance around Pereira scoring strikes almost all night.

Need a reminder of that crazy @AlexPereiraUFC power?! 😱

📺 Watch Pereira vs Adesanya at #UFC287 this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/EVv7dPajdk

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 6, 2023

But the big Brazilian, whose first fight is always with the scales, will be more confident than ever that he’s simply got Adesanya’s number in this fighting life.

Pereira has the power and predatory instincts to end the fight in a moment. Can Adesanya – at fourth time of asking – save enough in the tank to remain elusive in the championship rounds?