Adesanya turns down trilogy with Pereira, explains celebration after knockout win

Israel Adesanya celebrates at the end of his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in Miami, Florida, USA. (Photo: Screenshot)

• ‘Now, it’s settled’

The newly minted undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has shut down the idea of sharing the Octagon with arch-rival, Alex Pereira, for a third straight time following Saturday night’s devastating knockout win at UFC 287, claiming their spat is now ‘settled,’ reports lowkickmma.com.

Reclaiming the undisputed middleweight title, Adesanya, who managed to turn the tide and secure his first triumph over Pereira over their four fight series across professional combat sports, claimed his rivalry was ‘settled’ with the latter.

“I don’t keep score, I settle it, and now it’s settled,” Adesanya said of his rivalry with Pereira during his post-fight press conference at UFC 287. “I gave him (Alex Pereira) a fast track to the belt. I could’ve said, ‘Naw, who’s he fought?’ He only fought one top five (contender).’ But no. He did well. He fought some top guys. He beat (Sean) Strickland, and I was like, ‘Well, fine. There’s no one else.’”

As for an immediate trilogy bout under the UFC banner, Adesanya scoffed at the idea – urging Pereira to make a pursuit a division higher at 205lbs.

“I was looking for that challenge,” Adesanya explained. “He beat me in kickboxing and I got the immediate rematch because of what I’ve done in the game. … I did the hard years and I earned my rematch. Now he has to do the hard yards and earn it, but I don’t think he’s going to. Go cause problems at 205 (pounds) – I’ll tell you that.”

Receiving a slew of callouts following his triumphant title return, Adesanya was subject to open challenges from former champions, Jan Blachowicz, and Robert Whittaker –