Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya was asked to check two of his former rivals of their primes.
Israel Adesanya‘s fighting profession featured clashes with the likes of Alex Pereira and Anderson Silva within the Octagon. If Pereira and Silva clashed while each former middleweights were of their primes, Adesanya believes it will be one of the intriguing chess matches in UFC history.
Adesanya is plotting a UFC return for later this yr after suffering a 3rd consecutive defeat to Nassourdine Imavov earlier this month at UFC Saudi Arabia. After title losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, Adesanya is in a spot he was in earlier in his UFC tenure as he attempts to work his way towards a title shot.
Adesanya’s legacy includes wins over the likes of Pereira, Silva, and top middleweight title challengers like Jared Cannonier and Paulo Costa. Silva entered the UFC Hall of Fame last yr, and Pereira is probably going headed for the UFC Hall of Fame after setting quite a few records in his current run.
If Silva and Pereira battled during their primes, Adesanya would need a front-row seat.
Israel Adesanya picks a side in Anderson Silva/Alex Pereira fantasy matchup
During a recent Q+A session uploaded to his YouTube channel, Adesanya picked the fantasy matchup between a first-rate Silva and a first-rate Pereira.
“Leg kicks from Pereira are an issue, that’s the thing,” Adesanya said. “It’s just a distinct game. Silva as well, he mixes it up well…the way in which Silva, his distance was on, Pereira and his pressure Silva would’ve handled it along with his footwork. But Pereira’s leg kicks are an issue, and that’s something I can’t get past…
“Silva had a chin in his prime. Pereira in his prime at 185? I’m going to must lean Silva but Pereira [could] catch him against the fence…and Silva was good on the fence! I’ve fought each of them so I do know, I’m leaning prime Anderson.”
Adesanya defeated Pereira and Silva during his middleweight prime but lost to Pereira at UFC 281 to finish his long title reign. Adesanya outpointed Silva at UFC 234 in his first-career UFC pay-per-view major event.
Pereira is about to return to the Octagon next month at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev in his next light heavyweight title defense.
Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira could team up ahead of former champ’s comeback
Pereira invited Adesanya to coach with him soon during a cage-side meetup at UFC 312 earlier this month. The 2 dynamic strikers battled 4 times of their combat sports careers, including two fights in kickboxing that went in Pereira’s favor.
The pivot of Pereira and Adesanya’s relationship is especially noteworthy after heated buildups to their two UFC fights. Pereira credits Adesanya with inspiring his UFC profession.
Adesanya and Pereira’s unlikely pairing is one in all the feel-good stories within the UFC lately. As Adesanya works to get back within the win column, Pereira could potentially be the difference-maker he needs.
