Joe Rogan says this iconic Israel Adesanya moment couldn’t have played out any higher.
From the kickboxing ring to the UFC Octagon, the previous two-time UFC Middleweight Champion has experienced a number of the sport’s highest of highs and the bottom of lows. Three of those lows were defeats to longtime rival Alex Pereira, the primary fighter to knock him out cold in 2017.
In UFC commentator Joe Rogan’s eyes, Pereira is the scariest kickboxer of all time for his ferocious KO power, which makes Adesanya’s latest feat all of the more impressive.
Israel Adesanya crossed paths with ‘Poatan’ a fourth time at UFC 287 in Apr. 2023, needing two rounds to shut out a seven-year rivalry. Adesanya shelled up against Pereira’s attacks by expertly countering contained in the pocket to KO Pereira in devastating fashion.
Joe Rogan says Israel Adesanya had one in all the best speeches of all time
After the actual fact, Adesanya immediately celebrated by firing imaginary arrows into Pereira and gave Joe Rogan an unforgettable post-fight interview while still contained in the Octagon.
“I hope every one in all you may feel this level of happiness only one time in your life,” Adesanya took over the microphone following his win over Pereira.
“You won’t ever feel this level of happiness when you don’t go for something. Once they knock you down, when they struggle to s*** on you. They fight to place their foot in your neck. For those who stay down, you won’t ever ever get that result.
“Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness as you rise one time in your life. I’m blessed to give you the chance to feel this s*** repeatedly and again…
“Certainly one of the best speeches of all time,” Rogan said of Adesanya’s post-fight interview.
“It seems like like 15 writers sat in a room and got here up with the proper lines,” Rogan added.
Joe Rogan: ‘You would never script that higher in a movie’
Looking back on the night Israel Adesanya won back his title, Rogan says UFC 287 was an all-time moment for ‘The Last Stylebender’ – his legacy without end solidified through his actions and words.
“I bet that just got here out of the moment,” Rogan said of Adesanya’s speech.
“I didn’t even ask him. I should ask him next time I refer to him
“It was good there. It was an ideal event for him. It was perfect.
“The best way it went down was perfect,” Rogan continued. “You would never script that higher in a movie. To see him flattened out out cold after which put arrows in his unconscious body…”
Alex Pereira was Israel Adesanya’s last win within the UFC, the previous UFC Middleweight Champion losing his next three fights after that. With positive talks from his coach, Adesanya hopes to fight again in 2025.
