Israel Adesanya reclaims middleweight championship from Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in Miami.
Israel Adesanya delivered a stunning KO victory over Alex Pereira to reclaim the middleweight crown at UFC 287 in Miami, knocking out the Brazilian in the second round to avenge his only UFC middleweight loss.
Adesanya sought quick revenge after a loss to Pereira in November took the 185lb (84kg) championship belt he’d held since 2019 from him with two right hands, then raised his fists in triumph, claiming the championship belt middleweight and cemented his as one of the biggest punchers in the history of the sport.
After a cautious opening frame that saw Pereira targeting Adesanya’s leg with brutal kicks, the fight came to life in the second second as both men landed early headbutts and Adesanya’s hard boxing began to speak.
Pereira (7-2) landed a knee that pushed Adesanya (24-2) into the cage in the second round. Adesanya exited the cage with two right hooks and a right punch, followed by a floor and punch to end the fight at 4:21.
Adesanya, born in Nigeria and raised in New Zealand, entered the UFC in 2018 and won the middleweight belt a year later when he beat then-champion Robert Whittaker in a stunning knockout.
“They say revenge is sweet,” Adesanya said. “And if you know me, I’ve got a sweet tooth.”
“I played possum a bit. … That last [punch] had everything. That last hammer fist was from the gods,” Adesanya said.