Israel Adesanya knocks out Alex Pereira to recapture UFC title 2023

 In a highly anticipated rematch, Israel Adesanya recaptured his UFC title by knocking out Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 284.

Adesanya and Pereira first met in a kickboxing bout in 2017, where Pereira scored a stunning knockout victory over Adesanya. Since then, Adesanya has gone on to become one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC, winning the middleweight title and defending it multiple times.

However, Pereira has also been on a tear, winning multiple championships in kickboxing and making his UFC debut in 2022 with two impressive knockout wins.

The stage was set for a thrilling rematch between the two strikers, with many fans and analysts predicting a close and exciting fight.

The first round saw both fighters feeling each other out, with Adesanya using his reach and footwork to keep Pereira at bay. However, in the second round, Adesanya found his range and began to land crisp, accurate strikes on Pereira.

Pereira tried to respond with his own power shots, but Adesanya was too quick and too precise, dodging the punches and countering with devastating hooks and uppercuts.

Finally, in the third round, Adesanya landed a perfectly timed left hook that sent Pereira crashing to the canvas. The referee immediately waved off the fight, giving Adesanya the knockout victory and the middleweight title once again.

After the fight, Adesanya was emotional as he addressed the crowd.

"I wanted this so bad," he said. "I knew I could beat him, I knew I could knock him out. I've been dreaming about this moment for years, and now it's finally come true."

Adesanya's victory solidifies his status as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, and sets up potential future matchups with other top middleweights like Paulo Costa, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier.

As for Pereira, he will no doubt be disappointed with the loss, but his talent and power are undeniable. It's likely that we will see him back in the octagon soon, looking to rebound from this defeat and continue his ascent in the UFC ranks.

In the end, it was Adesanya's skill and determination that won the day, as he proved once again that he is one of the most dominant and exciting fighters in the sport today.