Brazilian Alex Pereira has questioned if Israel Adesanya really wants to defend his UFC middleweight title inside Madison Square Garden, adamant his hyped KO win over the champ five years ago has “screwed his mind”.
Headlining the UFC 281 press conference in an unbuttoned, leopard print jacket – and with no shirt underneath – Pereira was just as loud when it came to addressing his rival about one of the year’s most hyped blockbusters this Sunday (AEST)
Speaking via an interpreter, the UFC newcomer not only goaded Adesanya during proceedings — “Do you really want to be here?” — but also suggested he has already broken the outspoken New Zealander mentally.
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Pereira said he would also continue to fight – and beat – the UFC fan favourite as many times as was demanded of him by company boss Dana White.
Apart from having defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing, the two-division Glory champion also boasts a highlight reel knockout over the Kiwi that, this week alone, has been replayed thousands of times
Yet after switching to the UFC just over a year ago, Pereira has been catapulted into a title fight against his old foe after just three wins.
“And there’s a lot of people who think I wasn’t deserving, including Adesanya and his team,” Pereira said of his rapid rise to a title shot.
“Originally when I came into the UFC, he said he wanted to fight me.
“But as soon as I started to fight people, they changed the narrative, they spun things around, started to run around and said ‘maybe I don’t want to face him again’.
“I think I screwed his mind a little bit.
“I think he’s a little bit unbalanced psychologically on this one.”
Asked next up after if the old kickboxing adversaries could now create the greatest rivalry in UFC history, Pereira continued: “Surely yes.
“And I will fight him as many times as I’m asked to do.”
Adesanya, meanwhile, suggested it was Pereira who should be thanking him for getting a title shot in just his fourth Octagon appearance.
“For me, I’ve pretty much cleaned out the division and now I’m lapping it again. So I cleared the way,” the champ said.
“He should be grateful.
“He wouldn’t be here without me.
“My run to the title was a lot more impressive than what he’s done. So he should be grateful he is here because of me.”
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Adesanya also praised a crew of roughly 40 Kiwis who are comprising his team for a hyped New York fight card that also includes countrymen Dan Hooker, Brad Riddell and Carlos Ulberg.
“We’ve got myself, Dan, Brad and Carlos fighting,” he said.
“But behind us is a whole army … and behind (that) is a whole nation, a whole spirit, a whole mana.
“And you can’t f… with that, trust me you can’t.”
To which, Pereira started shouting back.
“I don’t speak Portugese,” Adesanya shrugged, before someone then yelled for the interpreter to earn his wage.
“You’re going to be alone inside that Octagon without a team,” said interpreter eventually translated.
“Oh yes, you and me don’t worry,” the Kiwi replied.
“But they’re going to be with me. With me in spirit, trust me.”
Then in what seemed to be a shot at the Brazilian’s team, who have made a few social media digs towards Adesanya this week, he continued: “They can’t save you either.
“They can’t save you.
“All this s…, hey, (you’ve) got bragging rights so talk all the s… you want. Because trust me, they can’t save you either when you walk in there with me.”
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Soon after, Pereira again launched a verbal tirade, prompting Adesanya to reply “man, I can’t understand what this guy is saying?”
“Adesanya, do you really want to be here?” the interpreter finally interjected.
“I am here,” the champ replied simply. “I am here.”
Elsewhere, Adesanya also had a strong response when asked exactly where he stood among the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
“I never chased those records,” he said. “I never chased the belt, I never chased anything.
“All I ever chased was bodies.
“Put them in front of me and I take them all out.
“This is going to be no different.
“I don’t chase anything.
“They all chase me.”
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