Adesanya retains his middleweight championship fight, at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, Florida, U.S, Saturday night
UFC 287: Adesanya reclaims title, knocks out arch foe Pereira
Nigerian-born mix martial art (MMA) prize fighter, Israel Adesanya has sensationally reclaimed his middleweight title after knocking out his arch rival, Brazilian Alex Pereira during UFC 287, at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, Florida, U.S, Saturday night.
Adesanya lost the belt to Pereira, last November, after also losing his first career fight during his failed bid to move up from the middleweight ladder.
Nigerian-born fighter, who had never beaten Pereira in either MMA or kickboxing on three previous meetings, has now avenged his only UFC defeat at middleweight level.
Saturday night’s fight which started in a cagey affair, ended with Adesanya following up on Pereira down on the mat with serious punches before referee Dan Mirgliotta waved the fight off, returning the Nigerian-born New Zealand fighter to the top of the middleweight ranking, a weight class he has dominated for the last four years.
Responding after the fight, Adesabya said: “I played possum a bit… look at me, I am here, he is here, that last one (punch) had everything. That last hammer fist was from the gods.”
The 33-year-old told the fans in attendance that he hoped they would have the chance to feel the same joy that he was feeling in that moment.
“If you stay down, you will never ever get that resolve. Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness as you rise,” Adesanya added.
