This previous weekend at UFC 281, Alex Pereira sprung one of many greatest upsets in a while when he managed to knock out Israel Adesanya, claiming the middleweight title within the course of.
It appears seemingly that the UFC will ebook a right away middleweight title rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya, so what can ‘The Final Stylebender’ do to regain his crown?
Adesanya didn’t battle badly in any respect in Madison Sq. Backyard regardless of struggling defeat, however he might nonetheless look to vary issues up if he needs to beat ‘Poatan’ of their rematch.
Listed here are 5 adjustments Israel Adesanya must make so as to defeat Alex Pereira in a rematch for the UFC middleweight title.
#5. Israel Adesanya ought to take the battle to the bottom faster than he did within the first battle
Regardless of struggling a fifth-round knockout defeat, Israel Adesanya was truly manner forward of Alex Pereira on the scorecards of their latest conflict. Nonetheless, the spherical by which he was clearly most dominant was the third spherical.
That stanza noticed ‘The Final Stylebender’ take Pereira down with a throw. From there, he largely managed ‘Poatan’ from each again management and from prime place in full guard, touchdown loads of strikes. By the tip of the spherical, Pereira was clearly drained.
With that thought-about, one avenue to victory that Adesanya might undoubtedly pursue of their rematch could be to look to safe a takedown within the early going.
Certain, wrestling isn’t the strongest space for ‘The Final Stylebender’ and he clearly isn’t a pure grappler per say. Nonetheless, he didn’t discover it too troublesome to pull Pereira down, and had he regarded for it, a rear-naked choke was clearly open for him.
Subsequently, Adesanya ought to in all probability look to take the Brazilian down as early as he can of their rematch. Even when he can’t safe a end, he might use his positional dominance to put on ‘Poatan’ down for later within the battle, and safe some invaluable factors on the scorecards, too.
#4. Israel Adesanya ought to bulk up a bit of to match Alex Pereira’s measurement and energy
One factor that was instantly noticeable within the latest battle between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira was the truth that ‘Poatan’ was clearly the larger man contained in the octagon, regardless of each males weighing in beneath the 185lbs middleweight restrict.
Pereira clearly cuts an enormous quantity of weight to make that restrict. So whereas Adesanya would possibly choose to remain lean so as to maximise his pace and motion contained in the octagon, for a rematch with ‘Poatan’, it may very well be a good suggestion for him to bulk a bit of.
In spite of everything, Adesanya’s solely different loss within the UFC – his choice defeat by the hands of then-light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in 2021 – got here when he was outmuscled by the larger man.
Pereira didn’t outmuscle ‘The Final Stylebender’, per say, however his measurement in all probability added to his punching energy, and it might even have allowed him a bonus within the clinch, too.
If Adesanya might nullify that energy benefit, then, it’d give him extra areas to work with contained in the octagon. Extra importantly, a bit of extra measurement might additionally assist his personal punching energy, making it simpler for him to complete ‘Poatan’ if the chance had been to come up.
#3. Israel Adesanya shouldn’t be afraid to battle defensively if the battle goes deep
Previous to his loss to Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya’s UFC middleweight title reign was marked by numerous criticisms for his obvious willingness to battle safely, permitting his defenses in opposition to the likes of Marvin Vettori and Jared Cannonier to go the space somewhat than look to safe a end by way of KO or submission.
Israel Adesanya responded to Chris Pratt’s criticism of his UFC 276 efficiency 👀 https://t.co/b6zdcgZryj
Clearly, as he was stopped within the fifth spherical, we didn’t actually get to see whether or not Adesanya would’ve fought safely so as to attain the tip of his conflict with Pereira. If the scenario arises of their rematch, it’s undoubtedly one thing he must do.
Basically, if the battle goes deep and Adesanya finds himself forward on the scorecards – as he did this previous weekend – then he ought to easily look to achieve the ultimate buzzer safely somewhat than push for a end.
It may not please the followers – notably the ‘Simply Bleed’ sorts preferring to look at a brawl – however a safer, extra boring strategy may very well be the important thing to ‘The Final Stylebender’ regaining his title, one thing that must be way more vital to him than fan approval.
#2. Israel Adesanya ought to begin rapidly to push the tempo
Whereas Alex Pereira was in a position to pull off a exceptional fifth-round end in his latest UFC middleweight title bout with Israel Adesanya, solely a blind man would attempt to declare that because the battle went deeper, ‘Poatan’ didn’t look drained.
Certainly, by the tip of the fourth spherical, Pereira mainly regarded out of gasoline, having blown loads of his cardio by being compelled on the defensive in a prolonged grappling sequence within the third spherical.
It’s hardly a shock that Pereira will not be a cardio machine, as he clearly cuts a whole lot of weight to make the 185lbs middleweight restrict. With that in thoughts, it’s one thing Adesanya ought to look to capitalize on.
How might he do that? Merely put, he ought to in all probability look to start out the battle as rapidly as potential and push a torrid tempo, forcing Pereira to tire himself out.
Clearly it wouldn’t be good for ‘The Final Stylebender’ to channel his internal Diego Sanchez and easily cost ‘Poatan’, however what he might do is definitely make the most of a extra in-and-out gameplan, with loads of lateral motion and circling so as to power Pereira to chase him, ideally at a tempo.
If Adesanya can put on Pereira out early on, the probabilities of him succumbing to a late knockout ought to grow to be extra slim.
#1. Israel Adesanya must keep away from getting hit cleanly
The largest key to victory for Israel Adesanya in his seemingly UFC middleweight title rematch with Alex Pereira is a straightforward one. He completely can’t afford to take clear punches from ‘Poatan’.
Not solely does Pereira possess a consummate killer intuition, able to swarming a harm foe till they’re completed, however he additionally hits arguably more durable than any fighter within the middleweight division proper now. It’s no shock, in fact, that he’s the one man to have ever knocked Adesanya out – and he’s finished it twice, too.
Of their latest battle, ‘The Final Stylebender’ truly did an amazing job of avoiding Pereira’s punches within the early going. Regardless of being largely outstruck within the second spherical, he by no means discovered himself in any true hazard, and actually solely received harm by the fifth-round flurry that ended the battle.
That flurry was enabled by an odd second that noticed Adesanya stumble after a checked leg kick. Fairly than rapidly get out of vary, he as a substitute remained static considerably and allowed Pereira to clinch with him earlier than opening up.
With that thought-about, whereas operating away is normally deemed a horrible transfer within the octagon, if Adesanya does get hit cleanly within the rematch, he might do worse than to repeat former heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem and easily get as far-off from Pereira as he can as rapidly as potential, even when that includes a bit of sprinting.
Mainly, no fighter at 185lbs can stand as much as Alex Pereira’s energy photographs, Adesanya included – so to win, he can’t afford to eat them.
