Alex Pereira on Israel Adesanya skid: 'That can happen to me'

Alex Pereira is not going to pile on Israel Adesanya.

The UFC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion said he respects everything his former rival accomplished, even as Adesanya has dropped four straight and five of his past six, with four of those defeats coming by stoppage. Pereira meets Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House on Sunday, looking to become the promotion's first three-division champion, but he is not taking anything for granted. "That can happen to anybody," Pereira told MMA Fighting. "I just signed [for] eight fights, that can happen to me tomorrow."

Pereira and Adesanya's rivalry turns to respect

Pereira and Adesanya split two octagon meetings over five months in 2022 and 2023. Pereira stopped Adesanya in the fifth round at UFC 281 to win the middleweight title, then Adesanya reclaimed the belt with a knockout at UFC 287. Before that, Pereira had beaten Adesanya twice in kickboxing. The Brazilian moved up to 205 pounds after losing the rematch and became a two-time champion there, most recently flattening Magomed Ankalaev in 80 seconds at UFC 320 last October.

Asked about Adesanya's slide, the 38-year-old Pereira kept it simple. "Who am I to say, brother?" he said, per MMA Fighting. "Like the guy had a brilliant career, you know what I mean? Who says that I'm gonna win eight fights in a row? I can start losing."

Pereira added that Adesanya has his respect. "The guy's had great moments," he said. "He's had a great career, a great success."

Pereira faces Gane at UFC White House on Sunday.

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• MMA Fighting — Alex Pereira reacts to Israel Adesanya’s losing skid: ‘That can happen to me tomorrow’