Grapevine

Usman hails Adesanya’s impressive Pereira KO

This win, on top of three world title finishes this year, puts into perspective Pereira’s sole loss inside the octagon—a second-round KO courtesy of his rival, Israel Adesanya, last year.

Speaking on his podcast ‘Pound 4 Pound’, Usman reflected on Adesanya’s second-round KO of Pereira at UFC 287 last year, which saw the Nigerian-born fighter reclaim the middleweight title.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Alex Pereira and what he’s done, but this makes Israel Adesanya’s finish of Alex Pereira even more impressive,” Usman said. “To be able to stop a titan like that, it makes it even more impressive.”

The rivalry between Adesanya and Pereira has been one of the most compelling narratives in combat sports, spanning over seven years and two different disciplines.

Their history dates back to 2016 and 2017, when Pereira defeated Adesanya twice in Glory kickboxing matches.