Israel Adesanya doesn’t care that he has the chance to reclaim the middleweight title.
Adesanya is set to rematch Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 287 for the middleweight title. It’s a massive fight given the fact that Pereira beat Adesanya twice in kickboxing – including once by KO – and won their first meeting in MMA. With that, Adesanya says all he cares about is proving he can beat Pereira.
Israel Adesanya Just Wants The W
“I’ve never not been motivated to fight this guy, but for this one I’ve put the pressure on myself,” Adesanya said at a UFC 284 media scrum. “Like, f*** the belt, f*** everything else. I have to beat this guy, so that’s my motivation, just beating him. Like I said, they can say whatever they want, it’s 1-0 or 3-0, I don’t keep score, I settle them and I just need one and I’m going to get it done.”
Back at UFC 281, the fight played out similarly to their second kickboxing fight as Adesanya was winning until he got caught. With that, ‘The Last Stylebender’ knows he has the tools to win this fight and promises the fans he will prove that in Miami at UFC 287 on April 8.
“Just keep the same energy because I’m always beating him until I’m not,” Israel Adesanya said when asked about potential adjustments. “So I’m just going to make sure I keep beating him the whole way through. I go in there and I don’t overthink. I’m not gun-shy. I go in there and I trade with people, especially with him as well, so expect me to do what I do. Like I said, I have to talk because you guys want me to talk, but say less and I’ll do more. I promise you I’ll do more in this fight.”
Should Israel Adesanya defeat Alex Pereira at UFC 287, he knows there is a chance they run it back right away. However, he expects the Brazilian to move up to 205 lbs should he lose his title.
“If he wants to stick around we can do it, but I have a hunch he’s going to move up,” Israel Adesanya said.
