Israel Adesanya has showered praise on his four-time combat sports foe, Alex Pereira off the back of his knockout victory over the Brazilian earlier this month, claiming he is “grateful” the Sao Paulo native had previously handed him three consecutive defeats.
Notching his first professional victory over Pereira across their four-fight series in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts, Adesanya managed to clinch the undisputed middleweight championship with a stunning, second round knockout win over the Brazilian in Miami, Florida.
Prior to that triumph, Pereira had landed the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden, securing the crown with a standing fifth round TKO.