Alex Pereira continued to be the thorn in Israel Adesanya’s combat sports side on Saturday when he claimed the middleweight title from his rival in the UFC 281 headliner.
Pereira (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) completed his quick rise to the top of the weight class when he handed Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), who he beat twice in kickboxing, a fifth-round TKO loss to claim gold in the main event at Madison Square Garden in Brazil.
With the victory, Pereira resets the title picture and gives Adesanya his first career defeat at 185 pounds.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Pereira’s title win over Adesanya at UFC 281.
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MMA Junkie
The time has come! Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira clash for middleweight gold NEXT at #UFC281 in NYC.
Full results: https://t.co/IwlReiajNE pic.twitter.com/9MOkv1p5Jj
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) November 13, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC281 World Middleweight Title Closing Betting Odds via @CircaSports
Alex Pereira +180
Israel Adesanya -210@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) November 13, 2022
UFC
Poatan on the hunt for gold! 🏹@AlexPereiraUFC ready to square off with a familiar face, this time in the Octagon #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/iChASw1BKF
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
UFC
Ready for revenge 😤@Stylebender set to defend his throne against a familiar foe in our #UFC281 main event! pic.twitter.com/TcHwszpDIZ
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
UFC
THEY MEET AGAIN. NO GLOVE TOUCH 🔥 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/h2MV9WSwBl
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
Marvin Vettori
Alright let’s see now 👀#ufc281
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) November 13, 2022
Bloody Elbow
Pereira opens with a jumping front kick. Adesany responds with low kicks. #UFC281
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) November 13, 2022
Belal Muhammad
Legs hurt already
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 13, 2022
Kevin Iole
Nice straight right by the champ
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022
Andreas Hale
Pereira barely misses a left hook. Still exchanging leg kicks. Big body kick by Adesanya. Alex closes in and lands a body kick. Izzy circles off. Body kick from Alex and he barely misses a fight ending knee to the face. Izzy ties him up and Alex goes to work on the body.
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) November 13, 2022
Nolan King
Israel Adesanya rocks Alex Pereira at the buzzer of Round 1. Wow! If there were five more seconds… #UFC281
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) November 13, 2022
Caposa
OH FUCK. PEREIRA ROCKED AT THE BELL
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 13, 2022
Kay Hansen
Alex was WOBBLED!! 2 more seconds and …. #ufc281
— Kay Hansen (@KayHansenMMA) November 13, 2022
Mike Perry
👀
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) November 13, 2022
Belal Muhammad
Wow saved by the ref again
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 13, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC281 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After Round-1 via @CircaSports
Alex Pereira +600
Israel Adesanya -1000@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) November 13, 2022
Dan Ige
Holy shiitt!!!!
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) November 13, 2022
Terrance McKinney
Izzy is a sharp shooter
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) November 13, 2022
Stephen Thompson
Pereira fighting like he’s used to having big gloves on…I think thats a big advantage for Izzy! MMA gloves are a different animal! #UFC281
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022
Teddy Atlas
Blinded him by the jab #UFC281
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) November 13, 2022
Derek Brunson
Someone going out ! #UFC281
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 13, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev
This is my belt 😡😡😡
Let me fight @ufc— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022
Teddy Atlas
No one wants to leave themselves open so jab is important #UFC281
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) November 13, 2022
Tai Tuivasa
Bring it home 🤑🤑🤑 @stylebender #UFC281 #ShoeyVasa
— Tai BAM BAM Tuivasa (@bambamtuivasa) November 13, 2022
Jimi Manuwa
Pereira hesitant once he’s in close #UFC281
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) November 13, 2022
Kevin Iole
Pereira with a takedown at the bell. Pressure was on entire round. 19-19 on my card
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022
Raphael Assuncao
#UFC281 main event 🔥 🔥
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) November 13, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC281 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After Round-2 via @CircaSports
Alex Pereira +285
Israel Adesanya -385@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) November 13, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev
🤼♂️🤦🏻♂️
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022
Terrance McKinney
Alex with the take down crazy did not see that one coming
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) November 13, 2022
Teddy Atlas
Pereira’s jab is like a phone pole, fight is now even. #UFC281
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) November 13, 2022
Dan Ige
HIGH LEVEL ‼️ #UFC281
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) November 13, 2022
Matt Brown
Size and strength of Alex is a huge difference maker but can he hold up for 5?
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 13, 2022
Kevin Iole
Izz takes him down and is on his back
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022
Nolan King
Alex Pereira rushes in and Israel Adesanya trips him to the canvas. Adesanya landing punches from the top, halfway on Pereira's back. #UFC281
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) November 13, 2022
Fight Ghost
Pereira lost on the ground. What is he doing. Love it. #UFC281
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) November 13, 2022
Caposa
Wonder if all this tires Alex
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 13, 2022
Ben Askren
Damn no one taught Pereira how to peel some fingers 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
— Funky (@Benaskren) November 13, 2022
Megan Olivi
Damn no one taught Pereira how to peel some fingers 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
— Funky (@Benaskren) November 13, 2022
Michael Chiesa
That’s Hickman wrestling 101. If you know, you know. #UFC281
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) November 13, 2022
Eryk Anders
Israel Nurmagomedov
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) November 13, 2022
Aaron Bronsteter
29-28 Israel entering the championship rounds
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 13, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC281 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After Round-3 via @CircaSports
Alex Pereira +510
Israel Adesanya -800@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) November 13, 2022
Brett Okamoto
Huge round for Izzy. Shows the evolution and let's see that gas tank on Pereira going into the fourth after all that grappling. 10-9 Izzy. 29-28 Izzy.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 13, 2022
Aljamain Sterling
Backpacking looks easier than what it actually is! Izzy up 2 Rounds to 1 in my book! #UFC281
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) November 13, 2022
Andre Fili
Impressive growth from Izzy in his grappling. Great top pressure and g&p from the champ. Big round. #UFC281
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) November 13, 2022
Matt Brown
So Alex lost and put on 20 plus pounds? He’ll start feeling it in these rounds
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 13, 2022
Stephen Thompson
The longer this goes the better for Izzy IMO #UFC281
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022
ESPN MMA
Volk liked what he saw from Izzy after round 3 👏 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/kMLUnjcjk0
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 13, 2022
Kevin Iole
Anyone else getting sense Pereira is gassing at this point?
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022
Andreas Hale
Izzy with leg kicks. Alex barely misses a left hook. Hard jab by Izzy. Right hand lands behind it. Right hand over the top by Izzy and a body kick. Another body kick. Izzy picking him apart.
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) November 13, 2022
Mike Jackson
Liver kick KO loading… #UFC281
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) November 13, 2022
Belal Muhammad
Izzy needed this war to remind everyone how good he is
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 13, 2022
John Morgan
Man, the tension still high, but Adesanya looks great. Pereira going to need a finish in the fifth. #UFC281
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) November 13, 2022
Nolan King
39-37 Adesanya. #UFC281
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) November 13, 2022
Nick Kalikas
#UFC281 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After Round-4 via @CircaSports
Alex Pereira +750
Israel Adesanya -1300@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) November 13, 2022
Ben Askren
39-37 Izzy. Pereira needs a finish!
— Funky (@Benaskren) November 13, 2022
UFC
Five minutes to greatness 🏆 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/oh0ppu7Q2L
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
Ant Evans
Izzy will literally go backwards the entire length of the Octagon – twice- because of a feint. He's so frustrating to watch. Massive talent. Unreal reflexes. But coasts. #UFC281
— Ant Evans (@AntEvansMMA) November 13, 2022
Yves Edwards
Obviously the timeline changed since I told youse what happened.
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) November 13, 2022
Mike Bohn
OMG! Alex Pereira TKOs Israel Adesanya in Round 5 to claim the title. Insane. #UFC281
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) November 13, 2022
Caposa
There's no fucking way. Oh my god
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 13, 2022
Belal Muhammad
Woooow 5th round
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 13, 2022
Stephen Thompson
OOOHHH MYYY GOOODNESSS!!!!!! #UFC281
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022
Edson Barboza
😳
— Edson Barboza (@EdsonBarbozaJR) November 13, 2022
Sarah Kaufman
Wow!!! What a night of fights #UFC281
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) November 13, 2022
Mike Perry
Preposterous power
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) November 13, 2022
UFC
THAT JUST HAPPENED 🤯 #UFC281
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
Georgi Karakhanyan
Only 6th mma fight crazy Alex Pereira is a G he finally let his hands go in 5th round 💪🏻
— Georgi Karakhanyan 🥩 (@georgimma) November 13, 2022
Matt Brown
Izzy fought almost perfect. Almost just isn’t enough for Alex. Daaaamn!!
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 13, 2022
Ryan Clark
Wow! He can’t beat him
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 13, 2022
Eduardo Alonso
Amazing! What a comeback by @AlexPereiraUFC !
Very happy for him, and his crew @gloverteixeira , @jgjoia and the gang 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻#UFC281 @ufc— Eduardo Alonso (@eduardo_alonso) November 13, 2022
MMA Junkie
#UFC281 results: Alex Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) def. Israel Adesanya via TKO (punches) – Round 5, 2:01 – to win middleweight title
Full results: https://t.co/IwlReirmPE pic.twitter.com/pC589k6948
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) November 13, 2022
Darren Till
Congrats to Alex, unlucky Izzy you’ll be back. 💪🏻
— D (@darrentill2) November 13, 2022
Yoel Romero
This is what happens when you actually fight #UFC281
— Peoples Champ (@YoelRomeroMMA) November 13, 2022
Michael Chiesa
Damn. That’s MMA for you. #UFC281
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) November 13, 2022
Jon Anik
This sport. #UFC281
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) November 13, 2022
Henry Cejudo
Respect to both @stylebender and Alex Pereira. What makes MMA such a beautiful game is a fight ain’t over til it’s over! Can’t wait to see the quadrilogy! #UFC281
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) November 13, 2022
Paulo Costa
It’s seriously you guys will take my videogames and secret juice from me? 😭
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) November 13, 2022
Khamzat Chimaev
easy money 💸💸💸🤪🤪🤪
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022
UFC
There's a new king in the middleweight division 👑 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/Ts5Wsjwd0n
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
Ready to fight in Brazil @AlexPereiraUFC let’s go champ 🤪🤝
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022
MMA Junkie
#AndNew! Alex Pereira leaves #UFC281 with gold around his waist. How surprised are you?
Full story: https://t.co/OElY5rfLqJ pic.twitter.com/71wUAK9MqE
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) November 13, 2022
