Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira (Image Credits: Imagn)

Alex Pereira Revisits Brutal KO Loss to Israel Adesanya in Emotional Show of Respect Ahead of Fight Night

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Sarthak Khanna | Last updated Mar 25, 2026 2:18 AM ET

Despite facing a severe loss to Israel Adesanya after an intense bout, Alex Pereira recently shared words full of respect for Adesanya. Pereira, who recently vacated his light heavyweight title, faced “The Last Stylebender” at UFC 287, where he got knocked out in Round 2 of the fight. However, as Israel is preparing for his next bout against Joe Pyfer, the Brazilian fighter shared a surprising and heartfelt gesture.

Taking to social media, Pereira posted a clip of his knockout loss, accompanied by a message wishing Adesanya good luck in his next bout. The caption saw the former two-division champ acknowledging their rivalry. What makes this moment particularly significant is the timing. With Adesanya preparing for yet another high-stakes fight, Pereira’s message offers both encouragement and acknowledgement of the journey they’ve shared.

“Much respect to Israel Adesanya… Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there — the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice. That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best. We keep evolving. See you at the top CHAMA,” Pereira wrote.

Alex Pereira posted a video of himself getting knocked out by Israel Adesanya and sending his supports for him this Saturday:

"Much respect to Israel Adesanya… Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there — the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice.… pic.twitter.com/5Pv6xSC8Rv
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) March 25, 2026

The duo has, fortunately, shown interest in ending their rivalry lately. It is not just Pereira who has made a heartfelt gesture; Adesanya, too, has been calm and respectful.

Israel Adesanya Looks Forward to Training with Alex Pereira

After Adesanya recently trained with former rival Robert Whittaker, fans began wondering whether he and Pereira could end their rivalry and become training partners as well. When asked about this in an interview, Adesanya provided a hopeful message for the future.

“Eventually, but right now it’s not that time. …We still have guys like Carlos Ulberg in the trenches, getting ready for his next fight so he can become a No. 1 contender,” Adesanya said while addressing the possibility of training with Pereira.

Israel Adesanya would absolutely train with AlexPereira in the future:

"Eventually, but right now it’s not that time. …We still have guys like Carlos Ulberg in the trenches, getting ready for his next fight so he can become a No. 1 contender."

( @DamonMartin) pic.twitter.com/lN7kjc2mOR
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 24, 2025

Adesanya cleverly confirmed that, while this possibility seems likely in the near future, for now, there are bigger and better things to focus on. As of now, Adesanya is preparing for his next bout against Joe Pyfer, while Pereira is all set to face Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House card.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: