)
Ahead of the fight against Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya arrives in Miami and throws the first pitch for the Marlins.
New Zealand professional mixed martial artist of Nigerian descent Israel Mobolaji Adesanya has arrived in the United States of America (USA).
The 33-year-old departed New Zealand for Miami in the States for his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) octagon.
Adesanya is set to headline the main event of UFC 287 contesting the middleweight championship against Brazilian professional mixed martial artist Alexsandro Pereira.
Adesanya attends the Miami Marlins game
Adesanya now in the United States of his fight attended the MLB regular-season game between the Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins that took place at the LoanDepot Park in Miami on Tuesday, April 4, 2022
)
Adesanya threw his first MLB pitch while wearing an unbuttoned home jersey of the Miami Marlins.
The stadium was a bit empty and the presence of Adesanya could not save the Miami Marlins from suffering an 11-1 defeat to the Minnesota Twins.
Adesanya looking ahead to fight against Pereira
There were mixed reactions to Adesanya's first pitch as it was compared to that of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) legend Conor McGregor at Wrigley Field before the Chicago Cubs met the Minnesota Twins.
Adesanya after the pitch was teased by fans that Pereira would have thrown the ball better and would get another victory when they face off in the octagon.
The style bender has already lost three times to Pereira, twice in kickboxing and once in the UFC.
Israel Adesanya has suffered two defeats against Alex Pereira since their kickboxing days, including a knockout in 2016.
)
21:35 - 29.03.2023
UFC Israel Adesanya responds to taunting by Alex Pereira
Adesanya is taking no prisoners as he prepares for his rematch against Pereira.
Yet, Pereira continued to dabble in kickboxing for a very long time while "The Last Stylebender" went on to create his own legend in the UFC.
Pereira entered the UFC in 2021 and went 3-0 to earn a title opportunity against the Kiwi a year later after being inspired by a disrespectful interview from Adesanya.
)
Prior to 'Poatan' scoring an unexpected TKO in the final round to capture the middleweight title at UFC 281 in November, Adesanya was winning by decision over Pereira.
At UFC 287, Adesanya will take on a foe who has shown to be his kryptonite in an effort to reclaim his title.
The former UFC champion recently acknowledged that this is probably his final opportunity to vanquish his personal demon.
He said, "I like it because it puts it all on me, and it’s kind of poetic in a way. One life: Roll the dice.
"This is my last shot, and I’m going to give to it all I’ve got in every sense of the word.”
Adesanya takes on Pereira for the middleweight title at UFC scheduled for the Miami-Dade Arena in Florida on Sunday, April 4, 2023.
Related content
)
16:36 - 30.03.2023
UFC Israel Adesanya invokes Muhammad Ali as inspiration ahead of Alex Pereira rematch
Israel Adesanya summons Muhammad Ali as inspiration before taking on Alex Pereira in the rematch.
21:35 - 29.03.2023
UFC Israel Adesanya responds to taunting by Alex Pereira
Adesanya is taking no prisoners as he prepares for his rematch against Pereira.
)
13:19 - 29.03.2023
UFC Revealed: Israel Adesanya is the most Googled UFC fighter in the world
According to research, Nigerian-New Zealand fighter Israel Adesanya is the most famous fighter in the UFC.
)
13:07 - 26.03.2023
UFC Nigeria’s Chidi Njokuani loses to Albert Duraev
Nigeria's Chidi Njokuani continues to struggle in UFC with another loss to Albert Duraev
)
16:00 - 22.03.2023
UFC Israel Adesanya shows off intense preparation for rematch against Alex Pereira
'Somebody gonna get hurt real bad' - Check out Israel Adesanya's intense preparation for a rematch against Alex Pereira.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)