Luke Rockhold
Luke Rockhold reacts to Israel Adesanya’s emphatic victory over Alex Pereira
Israel Adesanya effectively recaptured his UFC middleweight championship by knocking out Alex Pereira in the second round. Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold reacted to Adesanya’s victory in a recent interview with Submission Radio.
Throughout the first two rounds, the bitter adversaries exchanged strikes. Pereira clawed at Adesanya’s thighs, while the challenger fought with greater forward pressure and vigor than in their previous bout. Adesanya unleashed a right hand that landed clean and disoriented Pereira, followed by a follow-up right that knocked the champion out cold – a thrilling finish from the Nigerian-born, New Zealand-based superstar who successfully defended his middleweight title.
Adesanya was able to exact vengeance on his longtime adversary Alex Pereira, and in the words of “The Last Stylebender,” he was able to settle the score.
Luke Rockhold heaped praises on Israel Adesanya for the picture-perfect finish, stating:
“It was picture f***ing perfect, good for him. Yeah, no doubt, definitely, Izzy’s been, you know, I’m sure I inspired Izzy as he was younger and he’s inspiring me now. You draw inspiration from everybody. He was a f***ing gangster.”
Israel Adesanya warned an anonymous 185-pound fighter after his stunning win over Alex Pereira at UFC 287. Unidentified because Adesanya was so afraid of giving the guy more attention by using his name, even in jest. It was obvious, though, that he was referring to Dricus Du Plessis, the sixth-ranked middleweight in the world.
Du Plessis, a South African fighter, has caused a stir by declaring his intention to become the first legitimate African UFC champion.
Speaking in the post-fight interview, Adesanya stated:
“F*ck, I don’t want to give this n*gga no clout. I will whoop that – ugh, I wanna whoop his ass so bad. I wanna whoop his ass so bad. I want to do it in South Africa or Nigeria. But, he’s gotta do work. He’s gotta do something. Show me something so I can whoop his ass and I can show him history. I’ll remind you.”
“Because you gotta choose your words wisely when you speak on people that have come before you. People that paved the way for you. You’ve got to pick your words wisely. You want to try and be a big boy? I don’t want to give him no clout, but if he does work – and I pray to God he keeps winning – I will gladly drag his carcass across South Africa.”
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