Light heavyweight contender, Alex Pereira counters UFC president’s idea
Former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira is against the recent rematch decision the UFC president is musing on. He disagrees with it, because he thinks the win Sean Strickland had over Israel Adesanya should make such an idea negative.
Strickland became a team mate of Pereira after he lost to Pereira at UFC 276. The training sessions gave birth to a friendship that saw Pereira seemingly averse to having a match with Sean Strickland. Alex Pereira was the champion Israel Adesanya dethroned to become the UFC middleweight king.
Alex Pereira explained why he thought the rematch would be very wrong.
‘Clearly, Sean came in and shut his game down,’ argued Pereira. ‘He was really smart. He was moving forward all the time with an amazing defense and let’s not forget the precise strikes. He walked less, circled, and landed the best attacks. And, well, you all saw the result. I want to congratulate Sean Strickland.
‘He did an amazing job, and I’m really happy for this change in the division’s champion. I think Sean’s time has come, and it’s not likely that another – not likely, but it’s tricky. The way Sean behaved in this last fight, for someone else to quickly take away his belt. So, let’s brace ourselves for many more epic fights. Despite some people’s skepticism, ‘Oh, he fought with Alex, and it wasn’t like that.’ ‘
This statement echoes that of another observer, Daniel Cormier. But people think it was Pereira that told Strickland what to do. Though Pereira has naturally refuted this in words, one could still believe the opposite after considering several factors. One of those factors is that before the trilogy bout between Pereira and Adesanya, the former got to learn how the latter fought. It would only be normal for him to share a few secrets with his beloved team mate.
Alex Pereira was very open in stating what he thought of a rematch between the superstars. He once had rematches with Adesanya, but does not agree the situation that necessitated his agreement to those rematches was in the present one.
‘Personally, I don’t agree,’ Pereira said on his YouTube handle. ‘When it was me, I agreed because I was losing the fight and managed to knock him out in the final round, so it was a totally different situation. That’s why he deserved it. But now, Sean exceeded all expectations.
Many people who didn’t believe now believe. And hey, if you don’t believe, that’s on you. But I think he needs to keep going, bring in other athletes to challenge him.Adesanya needs to take a break because he’s a guy – man, let’s not discredit him just because he lost.
‘He’s a guy that I think fought four matches in a year. I think he needs to rest a bit his body, his mind to come back refreshed, ready for another fight and then come after that belt again and try something against Sean Strickland. But with the style Sean showed, I think it’s tough for Adesanya to get that belt back.’
Some would think he is just running to his friend’s rescue, but they could still be wrong.