UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya doesn’t see Alex Pereira as too big of a challenge in MMA despite two losses against him in kickboxing.
Adesanya (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) could get matched up with his former foe after both men compete Saturday at UFC 276 in Las Vegas.
Adesanya defends his title against Jared Cannonier in the main event, and Pereira (5-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) faces Sean Strickland in a presumed No. 1 contender bout on the main card. Although Pereira is up 2-0 on Adesanya in kickboxing, one by knockout, “The Last Stylebender” chose him as the most overhyped fighter in the UFC when asked during a “Gloves Off” segment.
“I’m gonna go with Alex Pereira, because I’ll make him look easy,” Adesanya told Kayo Sports. “Yeah, right now just enjoy the setup fights, enjoy the setup victories, you know? Yeah, that’s overhyped.”
Pereira is 2-0 since joining the UFC roster last year, scoring a knockout over Andreas Michailidis, followed by a decision win over Bruno Silva. In a UFC press conference last week, Adesanya dismissed the notion that it would be too soon for Pereira to face him should both emerge victorious at UFC 276.
UFC 276 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
UFC champ Israel Adesanya says he’d make ‘overhyped’ Alex Pereira look easy