A rematch between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira for the UFC middleweight title has been officially scheduled for April 8 at UFC 287, marking their fourth overall encounter and second in mixed martial arts. Adesanya had dominated the division until Pereira arrived, and their first MMA bout—though the third meeting overall, including two kickboxing contests—ended with Pereira securing a technical knockout in the fifth round to claim the championship.
Former champion Daniel Cormier has voiced concerns about the timing of the fight. On his YouTube channel, Cormier questioned why the bout is happening now and what the underlying reasons are. He noted that the decision to grant Adesanya a title shot ultimately rests with the fighter himself, and he has long advocated for an immediate rematch, saying, “If anyone deserves an immediate rematch, it’s Israel Adesanya.” Cormier praised Adesanya’s accomplishments in the middleweight division and his early UFC career, adding that a rematch would also provide Pereira with a strong first title defense.
Cormier speculated that Adesanya might be anxious about waiting too long, fearing that Pereira could fight another opponent and lose, thereby closing the window for a rematch. “Maybe he’s worried that if Pereira fights someone else, he loses. Izzy still holds a ton of cards, but I just questioned whether the decisions being made are based on this newfound push that Alex has been experiencing,” Cormier explained.
Regardless of these concerns, Adesanya’s credentials make a rematch against Pereira a logical and deserving next step. The two will meet again at UFC 287, continuing their rivalry and offering fans a highly anticipated fourth showdown.
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