Israel Adesanya’s coach explains why they’re ‘quietly confident’ about Alex Pereira rematch
Israel Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, is already looking forward to a rematch with reigning UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira. The City Kickboxing founder recently spoke with Submission Radio, saying they are “quietly confident” about another go-around, should it happen. “We’re quietly confident. You gotta understand, we were winning that fight relatively comfortably,” he said. “We […]
‘I’m happy with what I did’ — Marc Goddard wouldn’t change Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira stoppage
There is nothing referee Marc Goddard would change about his stoppage of Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 281 this past November. The former UFC middleweight champion was ahead on the judges’ scorecards 3-1 when Pereira started coming forward and connecting with several punches that staggered Adesanya. The ‘Last Stylebender’ was caught between the […]
‘I’m not done in this fight game’ — Carla Esparza says she’s in a ‘good place’ after Zhang Weili loss
Carla Esparza says she has come to terms with her loss to Zhang Weili. In the first defense of her second reign as UFC strawweight champion, Esparza lost to Weili by second-round rear-naked choke at UFC 281. Following her loss, the ‘Cookie Monster’ said she had ‘no regrets’ over her performance, and she told Mike […]
‘An innocent mistake’ – NY District Attorney may dismiss Israel Adesanya’s brass knuckle charge
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya ran into a little trouble last month at New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport. “The Last Stylebender” was flagged for trying to pass through security with a set of brass knuckles in his possession. Adesanya’s manager later revealed that the weapon was given by a fan and that […]
UFC champ Alex Pereira proposes $100K bet to Brendan Schaub for ‘running his mouth’ about Chimaev
Brendan Schaub got the attention of UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira. The former heavyweight turned comedian and podcaster had this to say about “Poatan” and a potential fight with undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. “Khamzat tweeted out, ‘I’ll fight at 185. I’ll be your champ’ Now, if the UFC wanted Khamzat to be that big of a […]
‘I lost three times to the same guy’ – Alex Pereira says Israel Adesanya needs to ‘accept’ defeat
The new UFC middleweight champion is a firm believer that styles making fights. Having defeated Israel Adesanya three times, two in kickboxing and the last one in MMA at UFC 281, Alex Pereira gave his thoughts on why it may be time for the ‘Last Stylebender’ to understand that his way of fighting just does […]
Video – UFC 281: Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira share mutual respect in The Thrill and the Agony
The UFC returned to Madison Square Garden with UFC 281, a massive pay-per-view event topped by a trio of highly anticipated fights. In its recent edition, The Thrill and the Agony gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the aftermath of Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira, Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili, and Dustin Poirier vs. Michael […]
‘Hunter becomes the hunted’ – Israel Adesanya appears on Hot Ones two days after UFC 281 loss
Just two days after his tough upset loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, Israel Adesanya pushed through with an appearance in the popular YouTube show Hot Ones. As with the show’s trademark style, the now former middleweight champion discussed various topics while eating increasingly spicy wings. Among those Adesanya spoke about was his latest […]
‘That’s why we have referees’ – Chandler won’t apologize for fish-hooking Poirier at UFC 281
Michael Chandler refuses to apologize for fish-hooking Dustin Poirier at UFC 281. He never saw it as a form of cheating, and he maintains the same reasoning in a recent appearance on The MMA Hour. “People think that we’re in there making decisions like me making the decision to pick up this pen,” Chandler told […]
Israel Adesanya’s coach reveals why he’s happy referee stopped fight with Alex Pereira at UFC 281
Coach Eugene Bareman thanked God Marc Goddard refereed the UFC 281 main event between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, and not Steve Mazzagatti. Although now-defeated middleweight champ Adesanya feels he could have survived Pereira’s fifth-round onslaught, coach Bareman ‘saw some signs that he [Adesanya] was in trouble’ and feels Goddard made the right call in […]
Gameplanning for Greatness: How Israel Adesanya lost to Alex Pereira
What makes a good gameplan? Is it security? Should a fighter focus his attention on avoiding whatever it is that the opponent does best? Or should he resolve to stick to his own strengths, whether or not it affords the opponent some opportunities? Last weekend, at UFC 281, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faced his own […]
‘I’m f—ng devastated’ – Dana White pays tribute to UFC fan who passed away
MMA fans mostly see the brash, profane persona of Dana White. But in a recent social media post, the UFC boss showed a side of himself that not many often witness. White paid tribute to a disease-stricken UFC fan named Michael, who recently passed away. The 16-year-old got to attend last week’s UFC 281 event […]
The Level Change Podcast 207: UFC Vegas 65, PFL PPV, Latifi suspended
Welcome to ‘The Level Change Podcast’, our combat sports themed variety show hosted by Stephie Haynes and Victor Rodriguez. Featuring the news of the week, fight card breakdowns and analysis, a roundup of regional promotions’ cards and fights; and whatever else we decide is important enough or entertaining enough to bring to your ears. Here […]
Sean O’Malley explains why UFC 281 stoppage is only ‘early’ if you don’t like Israel Adesayna
Sean O’Malley has weighed in on the debate about the UFC 281 main event stoppage. According to the UFC bantamweight contender, it all depends on whether on not you like Israel Adesanya. “I liked the stoppage just because I like ‘Izzy’ so much. If you don’t like ‘Izzy,’ you’re like, ‘Early stoppage!’,” O’Malley said in […]
‘He’s my bitch forever’ – Anthony Smith not impressed by Ryan Spann’s KO win
It seems Anthony Smith still hasn’t forgotten that promo Ryan Spann cut heading into their 2021 Fight Night main event. Attempting to channel Rorschach’s line from the ‘Watchmen’ about Smith being “locked in here with me,” Spann was quickly made to eat his words when the two men stepped in the cage on fight night, […]
Ex-UFC champ Israel Adesanya halted at New York City airport for possession of brass knuckles
It has been reported that the UFC’s former middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, was stopped after trying to pass through airport security with a set of brass knuckles. Perhaps, Adesanya was afraid that Alex Pereira was going to find him at JFK airport and defeat him for a fourth time, so he armed himself with some […]
‘Bring back Steve Mazzagatti’ – Matt Brown agrees with Adesanya on UFC 281 stoppage
Most people are on board with referee Marc Goddard’s stoppage of UFC 281’s headliner between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. For Tristar Gym head coach Firas Zahabi, Goddard essentially saved Adesanya’s career from a potential scissor knee from Pereira that he said, could’ve been career-ending. For his part, “The Last Stylebender” agreed with the stoppage […]
Robert Whittaker: ‘Absolute giant’ Alex Pereira is a ‘better matchup for me’ than Adesanya
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will be taking on Paulo Costa at UFC 284 for the organization’s return to Australia on February 12. But even with a tough test ahead of him, “Bobby Knuckles” couldn’t help but fancy the idea of a fight against newly-minted champion Alex Pereira. Robert Whittaker on Alex Pereira: Did […]
‘He used jiu-jitsu to survive’ – Alex Pereira earns BJJ brown belt after UFC 281 title win
Alex Pereira ended UFC 281 with a gold belt wrapped around his waist after a fifth-round TKO win over Israel Adesanya. Upon his return to the gym after the fight, “Poatan” was also awarded a new belt, this time to signify his ascent in the ranks of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In a video posted by MMA […]
‘I’d be pretty annoyed’, Michael Bisping shares his take on the Pereira vs. Adesanya stoppage at UFC 281
Michael Bisping sees arguments for and against the stoppage in Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 281 this past Saturday. Heading into the fifth and final round of the fight, the ‘Last Stylebender’ was ahead on the judges’ scorecards. However, the judges were unneeded as ‘Po Atan’ moved forward and unloaded on the former […]
UFC 281 should be a major teaching moment for Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira looked terrific in defeating Israel Adesanya by knockout in the main event of UFC 281. However, if the new UFC middleweight champion and his team expect the 35-year-old to have a lengthy run atop the division, there are a few things they could focus on ahead of Pereira’s first title defense. One of […]
Zahabi: Alex Pereira ‘could’ve ended’ Israel Adesanya’s career at UFC 281 if not for referee stoppage
Tristar Gym head coach and renowned trainer Firas Zahabi is on board with referee Marc Goddard’s stoppage of UFC 281’s headliner between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira. But for Zahabi, Adesanya would’ve been in serious trouble had the fight gone on for a few more moments. “It was fair. Some refs would’ve let it go […]
‘That’s not the way I wanted it to go’ – Frankie Edgar on UFC 281 retirement loss
Every fighter wants to say that they walked away on a win. That they knew just when to hang up their gloves and that they ended their career exclusively on their own terms. Reality is rarely ever so kind. Unfortunately for Frankie Edgar, that’s a lesson he learned full well this past Saturday night at […]
‘I was waiting for him to gas out’ – Israel Adesanya claims TKO was strategy in action
Muhammad Ali was the master of the ‘rope-a-dope,’ spending long stretches of time with his back against the ropes, letting opponents wing wild shots at him until they’d spent every last bit of their energy and were primed for picking off. It’s a dangerous gambit, all the more so in MMA, which both features more […]
Brad Riddell stepping away from MMA after loss at UFC 281
Brad Riddell suffered his third loss in a row on Saturday, on the prelim card of UFC 281. At Madison Square Garden he fell by first round submission to Renato Moicano. Previous to that he was submitted by Jalin Turner and KO’d by Rafael Fiziev. Soon after the Moicano loss Riddell posted online that he […]
The Level Change Podcast 206: UFC 281, O’Malley’s curious injections
Welcome to ‘The Level Change Podcast’, our combat sports themed variety show hosted by Stephie Haynes and Victor Rodriguez. Featuring the news of the week, fight card breakdowns and analysis, a roundup of regional promotions’ cards and fights; and whatever else we decide is important enough or entertaining enough to bring to your ears. Here […]
Early stoppage? Sean Strickland shares his take on Alex Pereira’s win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 281
Israel Adesanya lost to Alex Pereira this past weekend via TKO in the fifth and final round. The end came as Pereira bludgeoned Adesanya against the fence, forcing referee Marc Goddard to wave off the contest. Adesanya has since claimed that the stoppage was early and that he was merely waiting for Pereira to tire […]
UFC 281 medical suspensions: Frankie Edgar, Dominick Reyes get sidelined after brutal KOs
Most of the fighters from UFC 281 on Saturday are going to require medical clearance before they can return to competition, per the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). The NYSAC released its medical suspensions on Monday, and headliners Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya are included in the said group of fighters. ‘Po Atan’ finished […]
‘It’s not about the big gym’ – Cormier credits Glover Teixeira for Alex Pereira’s UFC 281 title win
In just his fourth UFC fight, Alex Pereira became the UFC’s undisputed middleweight champion. The Brazilian did it in spectacular fashion with a fifth-round TKO win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 on Saturday. “Poatan” has been a force to reckon with back in his kickboxing days, and he continued this upon his transition to […]
Rematch? – Nine unanswered questions from UFC 281
Rematch? I’m not one of those people who think every champion deserves an immediate rematch after losing their title, but Israel Adesanya deserves a rematch. Adesanya, who had five successful title defenses to his name before his knockout loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, was ahead on the scorecards heading into the fifth and […]