Alex Pereira says he’s open to training with Israel Adesanya if their rivalry is really over: “That could add a lot to our games”
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is interested in training with Israel Adesanya – if their rivalry is truly over.
The rivalry between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya has been legendary. After going 2-0 in kickboxing, Pereira managed to shock the world and defeat Adesanya via TKO to win the UFC middleweight championship. However, in their rematch, ‘Stylebender’ got his revenge with a knockout win to reclaim the belt.
Following that, ‘Poatan’ made his way up to 205 pounds where he became a two-weight world champion. He called out Adesanya for an MMA trilogy bout, but Israel doesn’t seem overly interested in the idea right now.
In a recent interview, Pereira has revealed that he would be interested in training with Adesanya if they don’t compete against each other again in the Octagon.
Pereira’s Adesanya idea
“Anything can happen,” Pereira said on The MMA Hour. “Maybe he and the organization have the interest [to book that fight again]. I’m here. But I think it’s over. I don’t know. I’d even train with him if I had the opportunity. He’s very experienced, he’s done what he’s done, and I’m also very experienced and have been doing many things. It’s two styles that have similar things, but many things different that could add a lot to our games.”
“I really wanted to [fight him again], but I honestly think it’s over now,” Pereira said. “I don’t know, I think it’s over. I’ve tried [to call him out]. It was my belt on the line. I came to the UFC and did three fights to get to the belt and it was a huge risk for me, it was hard.
“Since I wanted to do this rubber match so much, Adesanya and I — and if he were to move up to light heavyweight, and maybe people said he had to fight once before fighting for my belt, I wouldn’t want that because there’s risk of him losing. How am I going to fight a guy that has lost? No, come straight [at me]. But he showed no interest, so I kind of let it go.”
Quotes via MMA Fighting
Will these two ever meet again in the cage? Let us know your thoughts, BJPENN Nation!
