Adesanya v Pereira 3 unlikely after potential weightclass move
- Doug Mattushek
- 10 April 2023
UFC middleweight champion Isreal Adesanya seems unlikely to face rival Alex Pereira again.
Adesanya exacted revenge on his former kickboxing foe with a highlight-reel knockout victory at UFC 287 in Miami on Saturday night. Aside from sweet retribution, the victory - Adesanya's 16th via KO - returned the UFC middleweight belt back to its long-time owner.
The UFC matchmakers usually don't shy away from trilogy fights, but it seems that the score is settled between Adesanya and the dangerous Brazilian, who beat him twice in kickboxing before taking his belt last November.
Speaking to the press afterwards, UFC overlord Dana White said it's doubtful Pereira will fight at 185 pounds again.
"Honestly, I think that Pereira probably moves to 205 after this fight," he said.
"He is a monster. I know that he still had two pounds to cut leading up to when there was like an hour left in weigh-ins. Yeah. I'm not saying he's moving to 205, but I'd assume he is. You guys can ask him, himself. But it wouldn't surprise me… I would bet anything he moves to 205 after this fight."
Adesanya echoed White's remarks, adding that the 'score' between them is settled.
"I don't keep score... I settle it, and now it's settled," quipped the Nigerian-born fighter.
"I gave him a fast track to the belt. I could've said, 'Naw, who's he fought? He only fought one top five.' But no. He did well. He fought some top guys. He beat [Sean] Strickland, and I was like, 'Well, fine, There's no one else'.
"I was looking for that challenge. He beat me in kickboxing and I got the immediate rematch because of what I've done in the game. I did the hard yard and I earned my f***ing rematch. Now he has to do the hard yard and earn it, but I don't think he's going to. Go cause problems at 205. He's a motherf***** to deal with, I'll tell you that."
As for the man himself, Pereira gave no indication of a future division move, but confirmed that his journey is not over.
"I'm just here to let u know that I'm fine!" he wrote on Twitter.
"I want to thank my family, my team and all the people who are supporting me during my journey. Now I just have to rest and continue with the plans that are already on [sic] motion."
Speaking of weight classes, former light heavyweight champion and all-around good guy, Jan BÅ'achowicz, took to social media to claim he'll cut down to middleweight and challenge Adesanya for the belt.
The Polish star defended his light-heavyweight title against Stylebender in 2021.
"Congratulations on a successful rematch, @stylebender," he wrote.
"If you want to try another one, you know where to find me. This time at middleweight for your belt."
