BREAKING: Israel Adesanya knows out Pereira in Round 2 [Video]

Image: Vanguard

It was a sweet victory for the Nigerian MMA fighter Israel early Sunday morning as he took back his belt from Brazilian Alex Pereira.

The fight started with Israel Adesanya fighting from the blue corner, putting on a blue trunk, and Pereira has the red corner with a grey trunk. 

Bruce Buffer concludes the announcement, followed by instructions from the referee, and we are underway.

Adesanya with early leg kicks, and Pereira responds. Adesanya attempts a head kick and misses. Pereira lands a head kick. Adesanya lands a body kick, and both men continue to look for an opportunity to launch an attack.

Both men ended the first round with respect for each other, the fought cautiously.

Pereira exuded confidence early in the second and began to walk down the former champion. Adesanya, however, didn't wilt under pressure - nor did his legs buckle after eating a big left hook from Poatan.

Pereira has continued to chew up the lead legs of Adesanya from both stances.

But Adesanya is not deterred and continues to come forward and trying to find a home for his body kicks.

A good right-hand lands for Adesanya with two minutes of the round remaining.

Another land thirty seconds later, but Pereira takes the sting out of it by rolling.

Adesanya's right leg buckled in the final minute due to more vicious calf kicks, which backed up the Kiwi.

Adesanya began to cover up as he ate a barrage of shots. And he rocked the champ with a huge overhand right.

And he finished the job with a left hook and academic ground and pound.

Israel Adesanya was overcome with emotion after finally getting one over Alex Pereira

You can hear it from his post-match speech because the Nigerian didn't hold back when giving the first address of his second reign as middleweight champion.

He said: "No matter what, Alex is a great champion.

"He lost the belt tonight but he will always be a champion.

"In his story, I'm the antagonist.

"In his story, I'm the bad guy. But tonight, it's my story. History!"

This is one of the greatest post-fight interviews you will ever see 💯

Take it away, @stylebender 👏#UFC287 pic.twitter.com/QLkWJPwf6Q

— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 9, 2023

See video below:

Source: sun.co.uk/vanguardngr.com

 

#Israel Adesanya

#Alex Pereira