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 combat badly in any respect in Madison Sq. Backyard regardless of struggling defeat, however he may nonetheless look to vary issues up if he needs to beat ‘Poatan’ of their rematch.
Listed below are 5 modifications Israel Adesanya must make with a purpose to defeat Alex Pereira in a rematch for the UFC middleweight title.
#5. Israel Adesanya ought to take the combat to the bottom faster than he did within the first combat
Regardless of struggling a fifth-round knockout defeat, Israel Adesanya was really means forward of Alex Pereira on the scorecards of their current conflict. Nevertheless, the spherical through 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 high place in full guard, touchdown loads of strikes. By the top of the spherical, Pereira was clearly drained.
With that thought-about, one avenue to victory that Adesanya may undoubtedly pursue of their rematch can 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. Nevertheless, he didn’t discover it too tough to tug Pereira down, and had he seemed for it, a rear-naked choke was clearly open for him.
Due to this fact, Adesanya ought to most likely look to take the Brazilian down as early as he can of their rematch. Even when he can’t safe a end, he may use his positional dominance to put on ‘Poatan’ down for later within the combat, and safe some helpful 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 current combat 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 may desire to remain lean with a purpose to maximise his velocity 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 any case, Adesanya’s solely different loss within the UFC – his determination 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 most likely added to his punching energy, and it might even have allowed him a bonus within the clinch, too.
If Adesanya may 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 may additionally assist his personal punching energy, making it simpler for him to complete ‘Poatan’ if the chance have been to come up.
#3. Israel Adesanya shouldn’t be afraid to combat defensively if the combat goes deep
Previous to his loss to Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya’s UFC middleweight title reign was marked by a variety of criticisms for his obvious willingness to combat 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 through 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 with a purpose to attain the top of his conflict with Pereira. If the state of affairs arises of their rematch, it’s undoubtedly one thing he should do.
Basically, if the combat goes deep and Adesanya finds himself forward on the scorecards – as he did this previous weekend – then he ought to easily look to succeed in the ultimate buzzer safely somewhat than push for a end.
It won’t please the followers – notably the ‘Simply Bleed’ varieties preferring to observe 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 should be way more vital to him than fan approval.
#2. Israel Adesanya ought to begin rapidly to push the tempo
Whereas Alex Pereira was capable of pull off a exceptional fifth-round end in his current UFC middleweight title bout with Israel Adesanya, solely a blind man would attempt to declare that because the combat went deeper, ‘Poatan’ didn’t look drained.
Certainly, by the top of the fourth spherical, Pereira principally seemed out of fuel, having blown loads of his cardio by being pressured on the defensive in a prolonged grappling sequence within the third spherical.
It’s hardly a shock that Pereira is probably not a cardio machine, as he clearly cuts a variety of weight to make the 185lbs middleweight restrict. With that in thoughts, it’s one thing Adesanya ought to look to capitalize on.
How may he do that? Merely put, he ought to most likely look to start out the combat as rapidly as potential and push a torrid tempo, forcing Pereira to tire himself out.
Clearly it wouldn’t be sensible for ‘The Final Stylebender’ to channel his interior Diego Sanchez and easily cost ‘Poatan’, however what he may do is definitely make the most of a extra in-and-out gameplan, with loads of lateral motion and circling with a purpose to pressure 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 turn into extra slim.
#1. Israel Adesanya must keep away from getting hit cleanly
The most important key to victory for Israel Adesanya in his seemingly UFC middleweight title rematch with Alex Pereira is an easy one. He completely can not afford to take clear punches from ‘Poatan’.
Not solely does Pereira possess a consummate killer intuition, able to swarming a damage foe till they’re completed, however he additionally hits arguably tougher than any fighter within the middleweight division proper now. It’s no shock, after all, that he’s the one man to have ever knocked Adesanya out – and he’s accomplished it twice, too.
Of their current combat, ‘The Final Stylebender’ really did a terrific 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 acquired damage by the fifth-round flurry that ended the combat.
That flurry was enabled by an odd second that noticed Adesanya stumble after a checked leg kick. Somewhat than rapidly get out of vary, he as an alternative 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 may 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 entails a bit of sprinting.
Principally, no fighter at 185lbs can stand as much as Alex Pereira’s energy pictures, Adesanya included – so to win, he can not afford to eat them.