Israel (Izzy) Adesanya (24-2-0) reclaimed UFC middleweight supremacy with a bludgeoning knockout of arch nemesis, Alex “Poatan” Pereira (7-2-0) at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on Sunday.
In front of 19,032 fans, “The Last Stylebender” closed the rematch with 39 seconds left in the second round with what many believe to already be a knockout of the year contender.
In victory, Adesanya sees himself back in the win column after suffering his only middleweight defeat at UFC 281 this past November to Pereira.
“They say revenge is sweet, and if you know me, I’ve got a sweet tooth,” Adesanya said.
Both fighters came out the gate cautiously downloading information, and trading calf kicks for majority of the first round.
After a measured first round, the action piled up significantly in the second. Pereira employed a similar tactic to that of their first bout, constantly trying to use forward pressure to press Izzy to the cage and land that explosive left hook.
Izzy appeared to be a man on a mission, being much more aggressive than usual. Taking advantage of his patented lateral movement to nullify Pereira’s pressure, but also being victim to many of Pereira’s leg kicks, hurting him twice significantly.
By targeting the body with perfect roundhouse kicks, Izzy set up the head kick as Poatan dropped his hands expecting a body kick. But Pereira unfazed, kept pressing forward. Finding Izzy against the cage on several occurrences, he attempted to tee off and land devastating blows, but Izzy avoided. Adesanya found that Pereira dropped his hands significantly every time they met on the fence, which came to the Brazilians demise.
As Pereira recklessly threw punches in close quarters, Adesanya took refuge against the cage, playing possum for the Brazilian’s onslaught. But with lightning-fast reflexes, Adesanya countered with a missile of a right hand that caught Pereira square on the button, sending him reeling backward.
As the stunned Pereira struggled to regain his footing, Adesanya followed up with a powerful right hand that served as the coup de grâce – the proverbial nail in the coffin – and sent Pereira crashing to the mat, unconscious. Not content to leave anything to chance, Adesanya delivered a final hammerfist blow which looked personal.
Israel Adesanya left the arena with a performance of the night, and $50,000 extra to play with.
Dubbed “the greatest celebration of all time” by the fans, Izzy towered over Poatan’s lifeless body and gestured three bow and arrow movements as Pereira is known to be in a Brazilian hunting tribe, as well as calling himself the hunter.
Their rivalry commenced in 2016 where the two faced twice in kickboxing with Pereira having it over Izzy in both their fights, including one by KO. Izzy went on to become one of the best middleweights of all time in MMA while his kryptonite loomed in the background. Poatan hunted him down across multiple MMA promotions and snatched a victory against Izzy late in the 5th round in 2022.
This victory in 2023, transcends sport. It is not simply a highlight, but a moment. It was more than two people fighting each other. These two athletes have a story. One that can be applied in many aspects of life. With the whole world doubting him, Israel Adesanya defied the odds.
Champions who lose their belt and fight an immediate rematch are 3-12 in the UFC. In history, Izzy loses this fight. He made all the previous losses to Poatan a glitch in his matrix. He rewrote the script. He showed the world that despite the odds, with hard work and dedication, unfathomable obstacles can be overcome.
“In his story, I’m the antagonist. In his story, I’m the bad guy. But tonight, it’s my story. History,” the Nigerian said.
“People… I hope every one of you can feel this level of happiness one time in your life… but guess what, you will never feel this level of happiness if you don’t go for it. When they knock you down, talk down on you, find your resolve, fortify your mind” he said.
The hunter is now the hunted.
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