UFC 287: Israel Adesanya viciously knocks out Alex Pereira to regain middleweight title

Many questioned Israel Adesanya for coming back to fight Alex Pereira so quickly after Pereira had knocked him out on Nov. 12 in the main event of UFC 281 in New York.

Adesanya dismissed all the critics. He called for the rematch, he made the adjustments he needed after losing three consecutive fights to Pereira and, stunningly, he regained the middleweight title by knocking Pereira out in the second round in the main event of UFC 287 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

Pereira was chopping at Adesanya’s lead legs all night in an effort to slow the former champion down and be able to take advantage of his enormous punching power.

He hit Adesanya with a kick late in the second and Adesanya backed up to the cage. Adesanya was fine, but Pereira suspected he was hurt. He came in with a knee that didn’t really connect. Adesanya countered him with a massive right hand that sent the big man stumbling back. Adesanya landed a left and then another hard right and Pereira was down.

Adesanya jumped on the prone Pereira and cracked him with a blazing right and it was all over at that point. Referee Dan Miragliotta jumped in to pull Adesanya off and stop it at 4:21. Adesanya then went into a lengthy celebration after he finally conquered his bitter rival, who won their first three meetings and knocked him out in the last two.

There were plenty who thought Adesanya should have taken more time, but he proved Saturday he knew what he’s doing. He also reminded those who may have forgotten why he’s one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history.

“People, Earth; I need to say something, listen to me,” Adesanya 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.”

It was a brilliant performance by Adesanya, who kept forward pressure for most of the fight. He didn’t want to back up much and allow Pereira to put on the heavy pressure.

Adesanya was switching stances a lot and Pereira was going after the front leg repeatedly. It seemed to be taking a toll on Adesanya.

But he knew what he was doing all along and said he set Pereira up for the finish. He wasn’t hurt but made Pereira believe he was and set him up for the most dramatic win of his career.

And he got the win he coveted the most.

“Bro, they say revenge is sweet and you know me, I’ve got a sweet tooth,” Adesanya said. “You already know: This is f***ing sweet.”