LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 02: Alex Pereira of Brazil reacts after knocking out Sean Strickland in the first round of their middleweight bout during UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena on July 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Alex Pereira trains with an Olympic medalist ahead of his rematch with Israel Adesanya at UFC 287
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the Miami-Dade Arena with two marquee bouts, including a homecoming bout for one of the sport’s biggest stars almost exactly 20 years after UFC 42: Sudden Impact.
At UFC 287, former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faces defending champion Alex Pereira for the fourth time between the kickboxing arena and the octagon. And Jorge Masvidal, a Miami native, returns for a crucial bout against Gilbert Burns.
Pereira defeated Adesanya by TKO in the fifth round of their UFC 281 title bout, claiming the middleweight championship in only his fourth octagon appearance.
Adesanya now has the opportunity to avenge his loss, however, Pereira is leaving no stone unturned in preparation. Pereira is training with the Chinese professional boxer Zhilei Zhang in preparation for the fight. As an amateur, he earned bronze medals in the super-heavyweight event at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships and a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics. The Ring ranks him as the eleventh-best heavyweight in September 2022.
Pereira posted a bunch of training photos on Instagram with the caption:
“After doing 4 rounds with @zhileibigbangzhang I am more confident for my next fight, it was a very tough and dangerous sparring but I needed it and confirmed I am ready!!”
Drake has been cautioned by Alex Pereira not to wager on Israel Adesanya in their impending UFC rematch. Pereira is scheduled to defend his UFC middleweight championship against “The Last Stylebender” on April 9 at UFC 287, after capturing the belt from the Nigerian late last year. Adesanya has been beaten by ‘Poatan’ thus far, as he was defeated twice during their kickboxing careers prior to their 2022 octagon clash, where he was stopped in the final round.
Drake is notorious for taking large wagers on UFC fights, and he has already put his money where his mouth is by successfully backing Adesanya to defeat Jarod Cannonier. He has not yet indicated where he would place his trust this time around, but the Brazilian has already given the Canadian his counsel.
He posted on Instagram: “@champagnepapi – I hope this time you bet on the right person.”
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