Alex Pereira has continued to mock Israel Adesanya ahead of their UFC middleweight title fight by posting old footage of their kickboxing clash.
Pereira, 35, is challenging for Adesanya's title after just three fights in the UFC, having knocked out Sean Strickland on the undercard of Adesanya's last title defence to set up a trilogy fight with 'Stylebender'. The rivals have met twice before in their kickboxing days, with Pereira winning a controversial decision in 2017 before brutally knocking out Adesanya in their rematch the following year.
The Brazilian has tried to wind Adesanya up by copying some of his unorthodox training clips, such as when the champion dodged tennis balls with his back against a wall. 'Poatan' also showed off his impressive balance by hitting mitts whilst on a hoverboard and recently took things a step further by posting two clips of Adesanya falling over in their first fight.
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Adesanya has stayed silent on social media but promised to react to Pereira's posts with "violence" when they meet. "There’s a little extra motivation," he told AllStar. "Now that it’s here, I didn’t ask for it, the universe bestowed this upon me and it’s a great opportunity to rewrite history. I don’t react. I’m like ‘what do you want from me?’ He wants me to react. I don’t react. I will respond with violence when it’s time."
Pereira, who has just six MMA fights under his belt, is an underdog heading into his third meeting with Adesanya despite having the edge over him in their past two meetings. Adesanya's coach, Eugene Bareman, recently admitted some top fighters such as 'Stylebender' were getting complacent at their gym in New Zealand, so they have been put through their paces for their upcoming bouts. Bareman, Adesanya and teammate Dan Hooker have all taken part in next to no interviews ahead of UFC 281 as they look to stay focused.
Adesanya thinks Pereira will crumble with the pace that he plans to bring to their fight, adding: "I honestly think within the first five minutes, even within the first three minutes, the pace that we’re gonna bring he’s not gonna be able to keep that.
"In the first round, you’re gonna see him start to fold, he’s not gonna be able to keep that high pace. I know the kinda pace I can bring. He’s not gonna last. If this fight has to go each round, until someone falls. Trust me, I know who’s gonna stand. I know who’s gonna be left standing."
