Alex Pereira knocks out Israel Adesanya to become middleweight champion
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Alex Pereira made history at UFC 281 on Saturday, knocking out Israel Adesanya in the fifth round to become the new middleweight champion.
Pereira, a former kickboxing world champion, had already beaten Adesanya twice in kickboxing, and he looked to be the better fighter for much of the MMA fight as well. Adesanya was able to control the early rounds, but Pereira started to find his range in the later rounds and eventually landed a devastating left hook that put Adesanya down for good.
The win was a major upset, as Adesanya was the heavy favorite going into the fight. However, Pereira showed that he is a legitimate threat to anyone in the middleweight division.
Read more: Bassil Hafez voices displeasure over his split decision loss
After the fight, Pereira spoke about the importance of the victory.
“This is the main one, for sure,” Pereira said. “Because every other one is important, but due to the history and everything, this is my main win.”
Pereira’s victory was a long time coming. He had been trying to get a fight with Adesanya for years, and he finally got his chance at UFC 281. Now that he has finally defeated Adesanya, Pereira is looking to cement his status as the best middleweight in the world.
“I’m just getting started,” Pereira declared. “I’m going to keep working hard and getting better.”
Pereira’s victory was a major moment for Brazilian MMA. He is the first Brazilian to win the middleweight title, and will undoubtedly motivate a future generation of Brazilian warriors.
Pereira has given himself a chance to grow into one of the UFC’s top stars with his victory. He is a talented and brilliant boxer who, without a doubt, will rule the middleweight division for many years to come.
For more UFC news and updates
Read: Arman Tsarukyan Sets Sights on Michael Chandler After Impressive UFC Vegas 75 Victory
Read: Cannonier Dominates Vettori at UFC Vegas 75: What’s Next for the Fighters?
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