Israel Adesanya, the former UFC middleweight champion, will face Brazilian Alex Pereira in a rematch at the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida, on Saturday night. Their first bout took place at Madison Square Garden in New York on 12 November 2022. Since that fight, the Nigerian‑born middleweight has been eager to reclaim his belt and title.
The match is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., with Pereira defending his UFC middleweight title against his long‑term rival. In their previous encounter, Pereira secured a knockout after Adesanya was leading 39‑37 on all three scorecards heading into the fifth and final round. Adesanya now seeks to overturn the odds in an immediate rematch, having lost three times to Pereira—including two showdowns in the kickboxing ranks.
A victory for Pereira would cap off his rapid rise in the UFC, solidify his status in the division, and potentially open the door for a move up in weight if he defeats Adesanya again. The 33‑year‑old Adesanya stands 1.93 m tall and weighs 83 kg, while the 35‑year‑old Pereira is 193 cm tall and weighs 84 kg.
The two middleweights have previously clashed twice in the Glory kickboxing ring. Pereira won both encounters—first by unanimous decision in Shenzhen, China, in 2016, and then by knockout a year later in São Paulo. Many fans now favor the Brazilian to repeat his success this Saturday.
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