New Zealand UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya talked about what he expects from the upcoming title defense against Brazilian Alex Pereira.
I want to make this a horror movie. I’m going to keep that theme and make this a horror movie. I want to be the first person he sees when he wakes up. I want to make sure I’m right in his line of sight so when he wakes up, he’s looking at me, and then the ref. I’m going to be the first person he sees and that’s how I see this fight going.
Israel Adesanya, quoted by Middleeasy
Adesanya and Pereira will fight in the main event of UFC 281, which will be held on the night of November 13 at Madison Square Garden in New York (USA).
Israel and Alex have fought against each other before, but that time they fought under the rules of kickboxing. In April 2016, Pereira defeated Adesanya by unanimous decision; in a rematch in March 2017, the Brazilian finished the fight by knockout.
Adesanya, 33, fought his last fight under MMA rules in July 2022 at UFC 276, beating Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision. He has 23 wins and one loss under his belt.
Pereira, 35, knocked out Sean Strickland in the first round at UFC 276. He has six wins and one loss.