Adesanya arrives Miami for Pereira bout
Adesanya posted a video to his YouTube channel showing his arrival in Florida
Former middleweight champion Nigeria-born Israel Adesanya arrived in Miami for his UFC 287 rematch against current titleholder Alex Pereira.
The bout headlines Saturday’s fight card at Miami-Dade Arena in Miami, Florida. Pereira holds three wins over Adesanya in combat sports.
He’s beaten him twice in kickboxing including by knockout in their second pairing. Pereira stopped Adesanya late in the final round of the UFC 281 main event to capture the championship from “The Laststylebender.”
Adesanya posted a video to his YouTube channel showing his arrival in Florida.
He spent the first day doing a promotional collaboration with Muhammad Ali’s brand at YankeeKicks while posing for photos and signing autographs for fans.
Meanwhile, Pereira believes Adesanya has rushed into their rematch at UFC 287, hoping to move on with his career.
Speaking to Sporting News, “Poatan” said he always expected to face Adesanya again in the UFC but was surprised it came around so soon.
“Fighting me this fast kind of showed me that maybe he just wanted to get it over with, wanted to get it done,” Pereira’s translator relayed, offering a glimpse into what Adesanya might be thinking: “Let me just fight this guy one more time and, whatever happens, at least I can live my life in peace.
“He knows deep inside that he lost three times and I think that weighs on his shoulders way more than it is on mine.”
Around the time of their last meeting, it emerged an interview Adesanya had done with Sporting News Australia had been the catalyst for Pereira's transition from kickboxing to MMA.
