Israel Adesanya to face Alex Pereira in rematch

Adesanya and Pereira have history in combat sports

UFC 287 Israel Adesanya to face Alex Pereira in rematch

Tosin Abayomi 10:02 - 28.01.2023

After losing three times to him, Adesanya will try to stop Pereira for the 1st time when they meet in the 4th fight.

New Zealand professional mixed martial artist of Nigerian descent Israel Mobolaji Adesanya is set to return to the Octagon.

The 33-year-old Adesanya lost the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight title in November 2022 to Brazilian Alexsandro Pereira back at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Adesanya will now have the chance to become a two-time UFC champion with an immediate rematch against Pereira.

Adesanya vs Pereira rematch

UFC President Dana White announced the rematch between Adesanya and Pereira in the early hours of Saturday, January 28, 2023.

Pereira defeated Adesanya via a unanimous decision win in their first fight in 2016

White confirmed the rematch with Pereira at a press conference and confirmed the date but without the location.

He said, "Next up April 8th UFC 287 here's the lineup in the main event middleweight champion new middleweight champion Alex Pereira puts his title on the line in his rematch against former champ Israel Adesanya.

"The co-main event is Gilbert Burns versus Jorge Masvidal also on the card we have uh Raul Rosas Jr another Contender series Alum.

"He's only 18 years old and he's 7-0 after his UFC debut last month he's going to be taking on Christian Rodriguez who's a tough kid who also came off the contender series."

Adesanya makes the same mistake Usman made in the 5th round, Nigerian boys lose UFC titles in 2022.

Adesanya had six successful defenses of the UFC Middleweight championship in the last three years before the loss to Pereira.

Pereira defeated Adesanaya twice in kickboxing and with his victory in the UFC is now being described as the bogeyman for the style bender.

Adesanya will aim to reclaim his UFC Middleweight title and hope to get his first win in the fourth meeting against Pereira.

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