Despite their fierce history in the octagon, Israel Adesanya sets aside past rivalries to offer a detailed breakdown of Alex Pereira’s upcoming fight at UFC 313. Pereira, the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, is set to defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev in what’s anticipated as one of the most challenging bouts of his career.
Scheduled to take place at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the fight is garnering attention not just for the high stakes but for the strategic insights shared by one of the sport’s most analytical minds, Israel Adesanya.
Adesanya Analyzes the Combat Strategies
Adesanya, a former UFC middleweight champion with extensive experience both in kickboxing and MMA, notably against Pereira himself, highlights the critical aspects of the fight. He pinpoints the potential game-changer—Pereira’s powerful leg kicks. “Leg kicks – let’s just address the f*cking elephant in the room,” Adesanya remarks on his YouTube channel, emphasizing the significance of this tactic in the upcoming fight.
He speculates that while the fight might start standing, Ankalaev could shift strategies to grappling due to Pereira’s impactful leg strikes. “He’s going to clinch. He’s definitely going to try to take him down,” Adesanya predicts, suggesting a dynamic shift from stand-up to ground combat as Ankalaev might seek to mitigate Pereira’s striking power.
Pereira’s Evolving Ground Game
Adesanya also sheds light on Pereira’s improved ground game, noting his progression to a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. “I haven’t really seen him use it much in a fight because he hasn’t had to, but I’ve seen him roll with some people recently, and it was a lot different from what I remember,” he observes. This evolution marks a significant enhancement in Pereira’s overall fighting arsenal, making him a more formidable opponent than ever.
Pre-Fight Antics and Predictions
The pre-fight build-up has seen both fighters engaging in verbal jabs, with Pereira and Ankalaev making bold claims about their intended fighting styles. However, Adesanya remains skeptical about whether these promises will hold once the cage door shuts. He underscores the potential for an early ending to the fight, driven by Pereira’s leg kicks and a powerful left hook. “I just think this is going to go leg kicks, leg kicks, leg kicks, left hook,” he predicts confidently.
A Champion’s Perspective
Reflecting on his own experiences and the bitter lessons from their past encounters, Adesanya appears genuinely impressed by Pereira’s current momentum and capability. He candidly supports his former rival, backing Pereira to secure a knockout victory in the later rounds of the fight. “He’s going to knock him out in the fourth or fifth round,” Adesanya concludes, signaling his belief in Pereira’s continued dominance in the light heavyweight category.
As UFC 313 approaches, the insights from a seasoned fighter like Adesanya not only hype up the event but also provide fans and analysts with deeper context to the tactical dimensions that could define this high-stakes championship bout. Whether his predictions will manifest remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the UFC light heavyweight division continues to excite and evolve with each electrifying matchup.