UFC 287: Adesanya brutally knocks out Pereira, snatches title
Nigeria’s Stylebender Israel Adesanya reclaimed his UFC Middleweight title in style with a second round knockout of Alex Pereira at UFC 287. The Nigerian became the first-ever two-time middleweight champion in UFC history.
Having lost to Pereira thrice in his MMA career, including losing his UFC Middleweight championship in 2022, Adesanya was facing arguably the biggest fight of his career as he looked to finally score a win against his nemesis.
Sporting blue shorts for the first time since 2019, Adesanya was the challenger in the fight as he looked to unseat Pereira, who had the champion’s traditional black shorts with gold markings on. The Brazilian fighter was up to the task from the first round as he exchanged body kicks and shots with his challenger, looking for an opening to cause damage.
In the second round, the champion came out stronger as he pinned Adesanya against the Octagon, landing a number of significant hits as the Nigerian struggled to break out of the position from which he lost the last fight. He managed to do so and landed two big hits to his opponent before being forced back into the fence of the arena.
Pereira had Adesanya where he wanted and tried to break down his defence by landing some shots and a kick to his body, only for the Nigerian to find a two-punch combo that stunned his opponent. Sensing his opportunity, he went with a big right hand to the head of his opponent, sending him crashing to the ground. Adesanya then pounced on him with a hammer blow, knocking him senseless as the referee stopped the fight.
The Nigerian Stylebender secured a huge second round knockout win over Pereira that takes his record in the UFC to 24-2 in his career. He also regained his title with an impressive showing in Florida.
