Alex Pereira’s greatest rivals loved his title win at UFC 320.
At 38 years old, ‘Poatan’ is still going strong. The former UFC Middleweight Champion reclaimed his light heavyweight title from Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 320 in vintage fashion.
Pereira gave Ankalaev no room to breathe in the Octagon, applying pressure right away and rocking Ankalaev early for a first-round TKO.
The atmosphere was electric at the T-Mobile Arena. Pereira’s two-time rival Jiri Prochazka teared upon seeing the Brazilian win back his title from a common enemy in Ankalaev.
From the weight class below, Israel Adesanya also celebrated Pereira’s title recapture.
Israel Adesanya reacts to Alex Pereira dethroning Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320
Adesanya said Pereira wasn’t messing around at UFC 320.
Adesanya was the last man to defeat Pereira before Ankalaev came along at UFC 313. Pereira has fought Adesanya four times across kickboxing and MMA, only losing his last bout against Adesanya by KO.
While Pereira wasn’t able to avenge that loss, he redeemed himself against Ankalaev, a champion who had not lost in 14 straight fights.
Adesanya reacted to Pereira’s latest win on his YouTube channel.
“Look at him behind the black line,” Adesanya said of Ankalaev getting pressured by Pereira.
“Oh! He got him where he wanted,” Adesanya said of Pereira.
“He’s not f—— around, holy s—, he’s not f—– around.
“Look at him, look, he’s on, he’s on.
“I know it, I see the eyes, look at the eyes. He’s going. He has to go orthodox. Bro, he’s on.
“He’s on,” Adesanya repeated as Pereira went for the ground and pound finish.
“Go, go, go finish it!
“Oh!!!” Adesanya yelled.
“Chama,” the former champ added of Pereira’s win.
Israel Adesanya won the undisputed UFC title six years ago today
Adesanya touched UFC gold on this day in 2019.
Adesanya was the interim middleweight champion heading into his undisputed title fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243.
‘The Last Stylebender’ successfully unified the middleweight title, knocking out Whittaker in front of 57,000 fans at Marvel Stadium.
Adesanya’s greatest rival Pereira wouldn’t arrive to the UFC until two years later.