Israel Adesanya has vowed to "butcher" rival Alex Pereira in their UFC 287 title rematch this weekend.
'The Last Stylebender' will have a quick opportunity to avenge his defeat to Pereira last year when he meets his bitter rival in a UFC 287 rematch this weekend in Miami. Adesanya was stopped in the final round of their previous contest, but refused to sit on his laurels and re-entered training to begin his quest for redemption.
It is expected to be yet another huge ask for Adesanya who will be looking to win back his UFC middleweight crown, with the Nigerian having also twice lost to 'Poatan' during their time in kickboxing. However the 33-year-old has spoken with supreme confidence that he can inflict a violent performance on the new champion.
“This is probably the greatest storyline in MMA history. It’s probably one of, if not the greatest storyline in MMA history,” Adesanya said when previewing the fight at the UFC 287 media day. “Not many people get the opportunity to show how great they are, and for me, this fight, I feel like the underdog. I feel like everyone is counting me out. They forgot what I’ve done in this game.
"It’s time to remind people how great I am. “Now this is the point where I’m down two fights in kickboxing, one fight in MMA. I’m down three. This is like, in every movie, that one shot. This is my Eminem moment, my 8-Mile moment. ‘You get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes one in a lifetime.’ This is it, this is it for me. Imagine what if I get it done?
"What if I get it done better than he’s ever done it? What if I butcher him and beat the f**k out of him? I always do. I put him on his back, we’ll find out I do all this s**t and I beat his ass. Do some damage to him. Something amazing. Like I said, I don’t keep score. I settle them and he who laughs last, laughs best.”
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Adesanya will come into the contest as an underdog given his previous record against Pereira, but will take confidence from his performance prior to the late stoppage in their maiden UFC encounter. It is considered a do-or-die moment for the UFC superstar, who could find himself well outside of the title picture for the first time in several years if he loses.
It may also be his last opportunity to finally get in the win column against his long-term rival given Pereira could elect to move up in weight if he is crowned the winner again. The winner will likely face further challenges from the likes of Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker and rising star Khamzat Chimaev.
