It’s my last chance to finish Pereira, Adesanya vows

Pereira (right) has stopped Adesanya in two of their three fights. They will meet today in Maimi Photo: BBCSports

• Moves To Reclaim Middleweight Title In Miami

Nigerian-born, New Zealand based Mixed Martial Act fighter, Israel Adesanya has vowed to use today’s UFC 287 battle against the middleweight champion, Alex Pereira, to remind people how great he is inside the ring.

“Not many people get the opportunity to show how great they are and to rise to the occasion when all odds are stacked against them. I feel like the underdog,” Adesanya said yesterday in an interview with BBCSports. “Because of what happened in the last fight, people have goldfish memories. They’ve forgotten what I’ve done in this game and it’s time to remind people how great I am.”

Adesanya, a native of Odogbolu, Ogun State, says his rivalry with Pereira could be the ‘greatest storyline in MMA history.’

The duo meet for a fourth time at UFC 287 in Miami today, with Pereira winning all three previous fights.

The Brazilian, 35, has won twice in kickboxing and once in MMA, claiming the UFC title in November.

His latest victory ended Adesanya’s three-year dominance of the division.

“This is probably one of, if not the greatest storyline in MMA history,” Adesanya stated.

Adesanya, 33, unified the middleweight division in 2019, and defended it five times before running into long-time nemesis Pereira.

Adesanya lost kickboxing fights to Pereira in 2016 and 2017, the latter defeat his final showing in the sport before transitioning full-time to MMA.

Pereira joined the UFC in 2021, winning his first three fights to be fast-tracked into a title bout and third meeting with Adesanya.

Despite being a betting underdog after spending significantly less time in the octagon than