Israel Adesanya celebrating after beating Alex Pereira
MMA fans lash out at Israel Adesanya for mocking Alex Pereira’s son at UFC 287
Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira fought for the UFC middleweight championship for the fourth time in the main event of UFC 287. Adesanya knocked out Pereira in the second round. Adesanya won their octagon rematch from their previous November bout at UFC 281. Pereira had previously defeated Adesanya twice in the kickboxing ring.
On Saturday, Adesanya celebrated his victory over Pereira, calling it the happiest moment of his life. Adesanya, after knocking out Pereira, walked to one side of the cage and flopped to the mat in a dramatic fashion, mimicking the Brazilian star’s signature move.
At the press conference following the fight that night, Adesanya explained that he was merely repaying a favor owed to him by Pereira’s son, who had taunted him in a similar manner after his father knocked Adesanya out in March 2017.
However, this did not go down well with MMA fans who lashed out at Adesanya for trying to get even with a child. One fan wrote:
“You don’t even remember what you were doing at 7 years old. Imagine a grown man not realizing that and holding a grudge. It’s actually unreal how embarrassing that is that Izzy doesn’t realize that.”
Another fan wrote:
“I think mostly what people are upset about is how when Pereira won it was like yeah cool you won again, Izzy gets one win and thinks he has slayed the dragon somehow. Plus who lets a 7 year old live rent free in their head for 6 years.”
Yet another fan angrily wrote:
– The kid was 6 years old when he did that, now 12. – The kid is powerless to do anything. He watched his father get knocked out cold. That should be enough. – Adesanya taunting an actual child after the win is so, so low. – Adesanya threatens and mimics gay rape to fighters.
Check out some of the reactions below:
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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