UFC Adesanya: 5 Factors that helped The Last Style Bender defeat Pereira in rematch

A lot of people expected Adesanya to lose, here are 5 factors that contributed to his victory.

A professional mixed martial artist from New Zealand of Nigerian descent Israel Mobolaji Adesanya has reclaimed the Middleweight title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Adesanya defeated Brazilian mixed martial artist Alexsandro Pereira in the main event of UFC 287 early on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

There were several reasons why there was an expectation for Adesanya to lose to Pereira again.

We now take a look at the factors that led to Adesanya's knockout victory against Pereira at the Miami-Dade Arena in Florida.

1. History between Adesanya and Pereira

In their first meeting, which happened at a kickboxing match in Shenzhen back in 2016, Pereira won by unanimous decision over Adesanya.

In their second fight, which happened in 2017 at a kickboxing event in Sao Paulo, Pereira achieved a knockout.

At Madison Square Garden in New York in November of last year, Pereira defeated Adesanya to win the UFC Middleweight championship.

The last three results against Pereira all ended in defeats but were not an accurate depiction of the fights.

Adesanya could have easily won the first fight and was dominating the third until the fifth round when Pereira got the stoppage.

2.  Adesanya's Mentality

Adesanya's mentality is what sets him apart from every contender in the UFC Middleweight division.

Only Adesanya will express confidence at the highest level going to face Pereira who has already beaten him three times.

Going into their fourth fight Adesanya's message on his youtube channel, media day, press conference, and the ceremonial weigh-in stayed consistent.

Going into the fight he said, "I like the way the story goes I made him bloody I made him bleed, and can kill him.

"I want to make it a blood bath like I get up and it's just red from elbows and just beating him lumpy like, I'll do that to him."

Three days later he was able to carry out the action he promised in the octagon a reflection of an elite mentality.

Even after the victory, the mentality was the same as he said, “I hope every one of you behind the screens or in this arena can feel this level of happiness just one time in your life. 

"I hope all of you could feel how f***ing happy I am just one time in your lives. But guess what: You will never feel this level of happiness if you don’t go for something in your own lives. 

"When they knock you down. When they try and s** on you. When they talk s*** about you. And they try and put their foot on your neck.

“If you stay down, you will never ever get that resolve. Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness as you rise."

3. Lack of respect

Adesanya without a doubt is one of the greatest fighters in the history of the UFC.

However coming into the MMA rematch against Pereira, Adesanya was dismissed by many as past his prime.

It was easy to make that conclusion as Adesanya already lost three times to Pereira in combat sports.

The style bender's resume at the Middleweight level already makes him a Hall of Fame candidate when he retires and therefore should have been accorded respect going into the fight.

The great Anderson Silva won 12 of his 13 title fights and now Adesanya has won eight of his nine title fights and one course to become the greatest in the division's history.

Lack of respect served as fuel for Adesanya as he said in the last video on his youtube channel that he would be drawing strength from family, genuine fans, and friends.

He said, "I think this is the first time in a long time that I'm not just fighting for myself drawing strength from my family, my friends, real friends.

"My teammates who are actually on the grind with me, they put their bodies on the line for me, Blood Sweat tears."

The commentary from the fans led to Pereira not respecting the striking power Adesanya possesses and he paid the price.

4. Lessons from the last fight

Adesanya has a deep background in combat sports and Mixed martial arts that is close to a decade.

The style bender learned from the first fight and applied the solutions in the rematch.

Poatan reducing weight drastically to make 185 means he is gassed early in the fight until he gets his second wind.

Adesanya had enough time to get rid of Pereira in their first MMA meeting but settled for a point decision that cost him the title.

In the rematch, Adesanya lulled Pereira into thinking his striking game is inferior hence chasing to the corner intensified.

Coming into the fight he said, "Just expressing myself um feeling myself being able to trade with this Titan you know back and forth hurting him taking them down surviving." 

Pereira with the two stoppages against Adesanya had the intention of ending it early and it played to the strategy of the style bender.

5. Legacy

Adesanya is the face of the UFC on the international scene based on his popularity on social media along with his accomplishments.

His victories against Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum are one of the best in the history of the sport.

Before the fight, Pereira said,  “The WWE is a place for Adesanya. Because after this fight, there’s a place for him to go.”

Therefore, when Pereira says after he beats him for the fourth time Adesanya should leave the UFC and join the World Wrestling Entertainment Incorporated (WWE) it calls into question Adesanya's legacy.

Pereira only got the shot at Adesanya because of their past history in kickboxing.

To be victorious and then degrade all Adesanya has accomplished since he joined the UFC is enough motivation for the style bender to have an edge against Pereira and it resulted into victory.

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