Israel Adesanya puts Pereira to sleep to reclaim UFC middleweight world title

Israel Adesanya finally got a win over longtime rival Alex Pereira and it was one for the books with a second-round highlight-reel knockout in the main event of UFC 287 this Sunday at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

“I hope every one of you behind the screens and in this arena can feel this level of happiness just one time in your life,” said Adesaya, who lost twice to Pereira in kickboxing and was stopped by the Brazilian last November at UFC 281.

“But guess what? You never feel this level of happiness if you do not go for something. If you stay down you will never ever feel that result.”

Hard to imagine a better feeling ???? #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/Ops6sTX9gA

— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023

Adesanya started the contest with jabs and leg kicks. Pereira, meanwhile, circled the cage throwing jabs of his own and calf kicks that made Adesanya switch stances.

Pereira closed the distance in round two that had the crowd at the edge of their seats. Adesanya, for his part, started throwing combinations to the body and tried to press the action while avoiding his opponent's dreaded power.

After hurting Adesanya, Pereira pressed the action and threw caution to the wind going to the head and body. Disregarding Adesanya's counter shots and power, Pereira got caught with an overhand right twice that put him to sleep at the 4:21 mark of round two.

The win saw Adesanya reclaim the UFC middleweight world title and improve his professional mixed martial arts record to 24-2. Pereira, on the other hand, suffered his second defeat in MMA as he dropped to 7-2.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News