UFC star fires cheeky mental barb at champ

2 years ago 90

UFC airy heavyweight challenger Alex Pereira believes that Israel Adesanya has ne'er forgotten the time helium was knocked out, arsenic the 2 conscionable for the archetypal clip since that fateful kickboxing bout backmost successful 2017.

Adesanya has mislaid conscionable erstwhile arsenic an MMA combatant (and that was erstwhile helium moved up to airy heavyweight to effort and go a two-division champ) but successful what turned to beryllium his last-ever kickboxing match, Pereira sent him to the canvas with a near hook.

Less than a twelvemonth later, Adesanya would debut successful the UFC - and has ne'er looked back.

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But that infinitesimal highlights conscionable however intriguing this UFC 281 rubric combat is - due to the fact that for the archetypal time, Adesanya is facing idiosyncratic that knows they tin bushed him - adjacent if it was successful a antithetic sport.

"It's inactive there, for sure," Pereira said done an interpreter erstwhile asked if the champ inactive held memories of the clip helium was knocked out.

"I don't cognize however it's going to beryllium oregon however helium could perchance erase that from his mind, but I cognize it's inactive there."

When is UFC 281?

The main paper of UFC 281 kicks disconnected astatine 2pm (AEDT) successful New York, astatine Madison Square Garden - Adesanya's combat is apt to beryllium astatine astir 4pm.

Will Israel Adesanya win?

Adesanya has ne'er mislaid arsenic a middleweight, and is, arsenic always, a favourite with the bookies - but not arsenic abbreviated arsenic helium usually is. On Sportsbet, the Kiwi is $1.50 to triumph portion the Brazilian is $2.62.

How tin I ticker UFC 281?

The paper volition beryllium shown astatine plentifulness of pubs astir Australia - but If you're stuck wrong oregon privation to person immoderate mates implicit instead, it's a $59.95 PPV done either Foxtel's Main Event transmission oregon the Kayo Sports app.

Who other is warring connected Sunday?

America's Carla Esparza volition support her strawweight rubric against China's Zhang Weili, portion erstwhile Interim UFC Lightweight champion Dustin Poirier clashes with Michael Chandler.

Full card:

Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira

Carla Esparza vs. Zhang Weili

Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler

Frankie Edgar vs. Chris Gutierrez

Dan Hooker vs. Claudio Puelles

Undercard:

Brad Riddell vs. Renato Moicano

Erin Blanchfield vs. Molly McCann

Dominick Reyes vs. Ryan Spann

Andre Petroski vs. Wellington Turman

Matt Frevola vs. Ottman Azaitar

Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Silvana Gomez Juarez

Michael Trizano vs. Seung Woo Choi

Julio Arce vs. Montel Jackson

Carlos Ulberg vs. Nicolae Negumereanu

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