The brand new UFC middleweight champion feels like he’s prepared to simply accept whoever might come for his first title protection. After defeating Israel Adesanya through TKO at UFC 281, Alex Pereira says he doesn’t care what the UFC has in thoughts for his subsequent struggle. That mentioned, ‘Po Atan’ additionally had some recommendation for the ‘Final Stylebender’.
Having defeated the person twice already in kickboxing, Pereira instructed ESPN Brazil that, in his opinion, Adesanya mustn’t make any selections about his profession in the intervening time—together with leaping proper again into one other title struggle. Nevertheless, if the previous champion actually requests a right away rematch, the Teixeira MMA & Health fighter revealed he can be glad to grant him one.
“It makes no distinction to me if it’s him (Adesanya) or one other man,” Pereira admitted. “If I had been him, although, I’d say ‘I’m not preventing proper now. I’m going to attend a little bit, take into consideration what I’m going to do’. Since he needs it, although. I imply, he was the champion. If he actually needs it, he has earned the appropriate as a result of he has 5 title defenses,”
“We had a superb struggle,” Pereira added. “He did catch me at one level, so he believes he can beat me. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll struggle him, that’s no downside. If there are two guys. Adesanya and another man, I’d decide Adesanya, if I’m being sincere. I’m not selecting one other man simply to not give Adesanya the prospect. If he actually needs it, then he’s subsequent.”
Heading into his bout towards Adesanya, Pereira (7-1) was on a three-fight profitable streak within the UFC, with victories over Andreas Michailidis, Bruno Silva and Sean Strickland. The 35-year-old’s sole MMA loss occurred in October 2015, when he bought submitted by Quemuel Ottoni.
