In 12 tries, no MMA middleweight has been able to defeat Israel Adesanya. Luckily for fans and maybe unluckily for Adesanya, then, is that a kickboxer was able to do it—and then make the jump to the UFC.
That fighter’s name is Alex Pereira, and in its own way, that emphatic knockout of Sean Strickland Saturday at UFC 276 in Las Vegas might have been even more impactful than Adesanya’s dull-but-convincing middleweight title defense against Jared Cannonier in the evening’s main event.
After the card, if not also before, the pairing seemed like a fait accompli, so much so that Adesanya, in his post-fight interview with color commentator and podcasting luminary Joe Rogan, called out Pereira before Rogan had even had a chance to answer.