Israel Adesanya returned as UFC champion.
Israel Adesanya returned as the champion and, true to his style, aired provocatively. ZumaWire / MVPHOTOS
Watch Israel Adesanya’s knockout in the video. UFC can be watched on V Sport’s channels and on Elisa Viihde’s Viaplay service.
Freelancer Israel Adesanya returned as UFC champion when he won by knockout by Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in Miami.
Adesanya knocked out Pereira in the second round. The two met just five months earlier, when Pereira in turn knocked out Adesanya.
Adesanya aired his victory by “shooting” three arrows at Pereira. He then searched the stands for Pereira’s 12-year-old son, who was crying over his father’s loss.
Otelija started pointing his finger at the boy, after which he theatrically fell to the ground.
Pereira’s son taunted Adesanya by lying next to the knocked-out fighter in March 2017, when Pereira knocked Adesanya out in the kickboxing ring.
– I’m small, I remember. His son came into the ring and started playing dead next to me. I was like, you fucking little cunt, I’m going to beat you unless your father does it,” Adesanya said News.com.au website included in the press conference after the match.
Adesanya has received a lot of criticism for his gesture on social media, where users have wondered about the contestant’s behavior.
– Not good… Izzy is so pathetic, one user wrote.
– A 35 year old man who holds a grudge against a boy is the weakest I’ve ever seen, a kickboxing champion Steve Ibbotson wrote on Instagram.
– Incredible fighter, great finish and I knew what was going to happen. But the guy has no style at all, he continued.
Adesanya has been known for provocative vents throughout his career. Adesanya said that the relationship between him and Pereira is friendly and there is no grudge.
Apparently, Pereira didn’t find out about it until after the fact, because he covered the situation in his video from the beginning of the week.
– I don’t act the same way. He’s just being childish. Adesanya made his dream come true when he knocked me out. Still, he wanted to remind my child of a trick he did when he was 5 years old, Pereira said.
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