[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] is throwing his support behind [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] ahead of the UFC 305 main event vs. Dricus Du Plessis.
Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) will have the chance to become the first three-time champion in middleweight history when he challenges Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for the belt in the Aug. 17 headliner at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
“The Last Stylebender” turns 35 next week, and could be facing his final chance at a UFC belt if things don’t go his way. It’s a massive moment for Adesanya, and arguably the the biggest rival of his career wants to see him find success and hold UFC gold once more.
Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who has fought Adesanya four times in combat sports – going 2-0 in kickboxing and 1-1 in MMA – wants to see him thrive against Du Plessis.
“They asked me about Adesanya and Du Plessis – I said I don’t see Adesanya losing,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel. “Just because he said that about me, doesn’t mean I’ll say it back. It’s what I think. I don’t think he loses this fight. I hope he wins because he has a beautiful story. I think he has to continue his story. He isn’t a young guy.”
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Pereira, 37, has said in the past that he would be open to training with Adesanya and holds no ill will despite their history. Many words have been exchanged between the two sides in recent years, but with Adesanya fighting for the 185-pound belt and Pereira currently ruling the light heavyweight division as UFC champion, there is no point in conflict.
Adesanya has routinely picked against Pereira of late, with his predictions that Jamahal Hill would win at UFC 300 and Jiri Prochazka would dethrone the Brazilian at UFC 303 going awry.
Pereira won’t reciprocate with that same type of prediction, however, and instead said he will be rooting for Adesanya to get his hand raised at UFC 305.
“I’m here, supporting him,” Pereira said. “I already fought him, not going to say he should lose. I’m not mad at him. No grudges. Like I said, if one day it’s possible to train with him, exchanging knowledge. Behind the scenes we hear a lot of things about Adesanya. A lot of people talk about him like, ‘He’s this, he’s bad’ and what not.
“The people who truly know him that I had contact with, talk good about him. Has a good heart. A lot of the times it’s just marketing. I believe that. I can see he is a good person. So that’s why I’m here, cheering for him. If he doesn’t cheer for me, that’s not my problem. But I’m here, cheering for him.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.