The highly anticipated UFC 287 rematch between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira is finally upon us. The two middleweight titans will step into the octagon this weekend in what promises to be a spectacular showdown for the ages. Fans are on the edge of their seats as they wait to witness ‘The Last Stylebender’ and ‘Poatan’ battle it out for the coveted title.
For Adesanya, this fight means everything. He is determined to reclaim his throne after suffering a shocking defeat to the Brazilian in their previous encounter at UFC 281 last November. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the former champion, who was defeated in the last round by an unexpected turn of events.
As Adesanya prepares for the rematch, he is leaving no stone unturned. The Nigerian-born fighter has been training hard, both mentally and physically, to ensure that he is in top form for the fight. He has also been candid about his intentions to unleash the dog inside him, leaving no room for doubt that he is coming for his revenge.
However, there is one concern that has been weighing heavily on Adesanya’s mind. The former champion has voiced his suspicions about Pereira possibly bending the rules leading up to the fight. This has raised some eyebrows in the UFC community, as everyone wonders what exactly Adesanya is referring to.
Despite these concerns, Adesanya remains confident that he will come out on top. He has a point to prove, and he is determined to do whatever it takes to reclaim his title. With his impressive track record and unwavering determination, it’s hard to imagine him losing this fight.
As the UFC 287 rematch between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira draws near, Adesanya has been vocal about his concerns regarding his opponent’s conduct leading up to the fight. The Last Stylebender recently took to Twitter to express his belief that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) should constantly monitor fighters from the time they weigh in until they enter the octagon.
“USADA, monitor us from the moment we get off the scale till we hit the arena on Saturday. Have people take shifts if they have to…no loopholes to jump here.”
Adesanya’s tweet was cryptic, but many have speculated that he may be alluding to potential IV use by his opponent. The use of intravenous (IV) therapy is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) if the quantity administered exceeds 100 millilitres within a 12-hour period. This ban was put in place to prevent fighters from becoming “weight bullies” by quickly rehydrating themselves after a weight cut.
Adesanya is not the first fighter to voice concerns about potential IV use by opponents. In fact, following Islam Makhachev’s win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, Dan Hooker made similar allegations against Makhachev. The use of IVs can give fighters an unfair advantage by allowing them to rehydrate more quickly after a weight cut and potentially gain an edge in the fight.
While it is not clear if Adesanya’s tweet was specifically directed at Pereira, it is clear that he believes that constant monitoring by USADA is imperative to ensure a fair playing field in the sport. With the stakes so high for this rematch, it’s no surprise that Adesanya wants to make sure that everything is above board leading up to the fight.
As fans eagerly await the highly anticipated UFC 287 rematch between Adesanya and Pereira, the issue of potential IV use adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already exciting event. Will USADA take Adesanya’s concerns seriously? Will Pereira be able to defend his title fairly and squarely? These are just some of the questions that will be on everyone’s minds as the fighters step into the octagon this weekend.
Alex Pereira, the current UFC middleweight champion, has been vocal about his opponent Israel Adesanya’s decision to seek an immediate rematch at UFC 287. Pereira holds two wins over Adesanya in the GLORY kickboxing league, including a devastating knockout in 2017. While Adesanya has since moved on to become a UFC champion in his own right, Pereira took away his middleweight title in a shocking upset last November.
Despite Adesanya’s desire to reclaim his title, Pereira believes it is a mistake for him to jump right back into a fight with him. Speaking at the UFC 287 media day, ‘Poatan’ stated that Adesanya has already gone 3-0 against him, and he doesn’t think that a fourth fight will yield a different result.
“If he was on my team, I would tell him, ‘Man, don’t do this fight now.’ He’s had a brilliant career but he saw there’s no success against me, so I would definitely advise him against doing this fight now. Fight once or twice, and then come back and try again.”
Pereira’s confidence in his abilities is understandable, given his previous success against Adesanya. However, Adesanya has shown time and time again that he is a resilient and adaptable fighter who can learn from his losses and come back stronger. It remains to be seen if Adesanya can make the necessary adjustments to overcome Pereira’s striking prowess in their upcoming rematch.
As the fight approaches, tensions are high between the two fighters, with Adesanya expressing concerns about Pereira potentially bending the rules leading up to the fight. With both fighters highly motivated to emerge victorious, the UFC 287 rematch promises to be an intense and exciting showdown that fans won’t want to miss.
