Israel Adesanya has reclaimed his middleweight title after beating long-term rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287.
The first round started off slow and was difficult to score. Pereira opened with several low kicks that landed and Adesanya peppered in some punches, but there were few strikes of note.
The 33-year-old managed a second-round knockout to seal the win over Pereira to take back the title that he lost last year in November.
According to the winner of the last night fight, “I told you, the hunter is now the hunted. I thought I told him this before but thank you. Thank you for beating me,” said Adesanya straight after his win.
“By beating me, he made me a better fighter. A better person. In this camp, I didn’t f*** around. If you know me, you know I like a vacation but I didn’t f*** around. I stayed on the grind.
“I hope every one of you can feel this level of happiness for one time in your life,” he continued.
“But guess what? You’ll never feel this level of happiness if you don’t go for something in your life. When they knock you down, if you stay down you will never get that resolve.
“Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness. I’m blessed to feel this again and again and again.”