Israel Adesanya Defeats: Alex Pereira is the new middleweight champion after rallying in the final round to knock out Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 on Saturday night.
‘Poatan’ was wobbled by his long-time rival in the first round at Madison Square Garden but recovered and was competitive throughout the fight.
Israel Adesanya Defeats
In the third frame, ‘The Last Stylebender’ secured his first-ever UFC takedown and showed he had a clear advantage on the ground against his inexperienced opponent.
Pereira emerged for round four looking exhausted from the grappling exchanges and seemed to be on his way to a decision defeat when the unthinkable happened in the final frame.
The Brazilian knockout artist landed a flurry of punches that had Adesanya out of his feet before referee Marc Goddard step in to save the New Zealander from taking any more punishment.
Adesanya immediately protested the stoppage but the fight was over and Pereira wheeled away in celebration after being told by his cornermen that he needed a finish in the last round to win.
The UFC 281 main event paves the way for a fourth fight between the two world-class kickboxers who shared a fierce rivalry before switching sports and meeting again inside the Octagon.
In 2016, Pereira ended Adesanya’s 12-fight winning streak with a unanimous decision victory before the two men met again in a rematch that ended in disaster for the UFC middleweight legend.
Alex Pereira Knocks Out Israel Adesanya
A lead left hook caught ‘The Last Stylebender’ and left him out cold on the canvas and he later required oxygen as he struggled to instantly regain consciousness.
After that, Adesanya transitioned to MMA and has become one of the biggest stars in the sport after picking up wins over the likes of Jared Cannonier, Robert Whittaker, Marvin Vettori, Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, and Anderson Silva during his 22-fight career.
Prior to UFC 281, he had only lost at light-heavyweight when he stepped up to face Jan Blachowicz who he matched over five rounds in a close decision defeat.
Adesanya bounced back from that loss sensationally and will surely be calling for another crack at Pereira who is a UFC champion after just four fights with the company.
ALEX PEREIRA JUST FINISHED ISRAEL ADESANYA!!! ?
AND NEWWWWWWW!!! ?#UFC281 pic.twitter.com/ke79appLEU
— #UFC281 on BT Sport (@btsportufc) November 13, 2022
“I was fine, first thing I said to the ref was ‘I’m fine because I was still lucid, still in there and I was fine.
“I talked to my coaches and I trust them, but I was fine, I could see everything that was happening. My eyes might have rolled into the back of my head a little bit but I was lucid.
“I’m grateful, I’m proud, my team’s proud of me.
“This is my third fight in ten months, every time I fight I risk losing what you guys deem as prestigious, which it is, the belt.
“I put it all on the line because I’m not trying to just fight once and then chill, do my lap around and parade as a champion and not risk so much. I put it all on the line and this is what happens. Dare to be great, and I am.
