Israel Adesanya has been mocked for "holding a grudge on five-year-olds" after teasing Alex Pereira's son at UFC 287.
Adesanya, 33, won back his UFC middleweight title by brutally knocking out Pereira in their rematch earlier this month. It marked the fourth time the rivals had fought in all disciplines, with Adesanya finally getting a win against the Brazilian after previously going 0-3 against him.
After their second kickboxing fight in 2017, Pereira's then five-year-old son mocked Adesanya just moments after he was knocked out by imitating him falling to the floor. Adesanya gave Pereira's son a taste of his own medicine in their latest fight, performing the same gesture in the cage to Pereira's son who was cageside to watch his dad be knocked out.
What did you make of Israel Adesanya taunting Alex Pereira's son after his UFC 287 win? Let us know in the comments section below
Adesanya admitted he was being "petty" by mocking Pereira's son after the fight, but his former opponent Robert Whittaker doesn't think his excuse was good enough. "The bit with Pereira's son was a bit petty," Whittaker said on The MMA Hour. "He said it himself, he’s a petty dude, but dude, you can’t hold a grudge on five-year-olds.
“If I held a grudge with every five-year-old that p***ed me off, I’d be fighting for the next 40 years of my life. To everyone listening and watching, that doesn’t make it a good thing. Don’t get confused, just because he does it and admits it like a champ doesn’t mean it’s a good thing - don’t be petty. Can I just clarify something? He said he’s petty, he admitted it with such energy."
Adesanya said that he wanted "whoop" Pereira's son when he mocked him in 2017 and admitted the taunt had played on his mind. Whittaker, who has lost to Adesanya twice, was seemingly glad his former opponent reclaimed the middleweight belt as he is targeting a third fight against him. "I'm going to beat Israel the next time we come across, it's funny how much that stood out to me," he added.
“I can't quit, I’m in this game and he’s got the belt and I want to win. I want to take that from him. I’m going to beat him. Izzy fought Pereira four times over the course of his career. I’m only gonna need to fight Izzy three times because I will beat him that next time. I’m 100 per cent confident that I will beat him that next time, so there's that option."
