Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya was asked to compare two of his former rivals in their primes.
Israel Adesanya‘s fighting career featured clashes with the likes of Alex Pereira and Anderson Silva in the Octagon. If Pereira and Silva clashed while both former middleweights were in their primes, Adesanya believes it would be one of the most intriguing chess matches in UFC history.
Adesanya is plotting a UFC return for later this year after suffering a third consecutive defeat to Nassourdine Imavov earlier this month at UFC Saudi Arabia. After title losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, Adesanya is in a spot he was in earlier in his UFC tenure as he attempts to work his way towards a title shot.
Adesanya’s legacy includes wins over the likes of Pereira, Silva, and top middleweight title challengers like Jared Cannonier and Paulo Costa. Silva entered the UFC Hall of Fame last year, and Pereira is likely headed for the UFC Hall of Fame after setting numerous records in his current run.
If Silva and Pereira battled during their primes, Adesanya would want a front-row seat.
Israel Adesanya picks a side in Anderson Silva/Alex Pereira fantasy matchup
During a recent Q+A session uploaded to his YouTube channel, Adesanya picked the fantasy matchup between a prime Silva and a prime Pereira.
“Leg kicks from Pereira are a problem, that’s the thing,” Adesanya said. “It’s just a different game. Silva as well, he mixes it up well…the way Silva, his distance was on, Pereira and his pressure Silva would’ve handled it with his footwork. But Pereira’s leg kicks are a problem, and that’s something I can’t get past…
“Silva had a chin in his prime. Pereira in his prime at 185? I’m going to have to lean Silva but Pereira [could] catch him against the fence…and Silva was good on the fence! I’ve fought both of them so I know, I’m leaning prime Anderson.”
Adesanya defeated Pereira and Silva during his middleweight prime but lost to Pereira at UFC 281 to end his long title reign. Adesanya outpointed Silva at UFC 234 in his first-career UFC pay-per-view main event.
Pereira is set to return to the Octagon next month at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev in his next light heavyweight title defense.
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Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira could team up ahead of former champ’s comeback
Pereira invited Adesanya to train with him soon during a cage-side meetup at UFC 312 earlier this month. The two dynamic strikers battled four times in their combat sports careers, including two fights in kickboxing that went in Pereira’s favor.
The pivot of Pereira and Adesanya’s relationship is particularly noteworthy after heated buildups to their two UFC fights. Pereira credits Adesanya with inspiring his UFC career.
Adesanya and Pereira’s unlikely pairing is one of the feel-good stories in the UFC in recent years. As Adesanya works to get back in the win column, Pereira could potentially be the difference-maker he needs.