“I hope he retires”: Israel Adesanya speaks honestly about Alex Pereira rivalry and the Brazilian’s UFC dominance

Israel Adesanya spoke from the heart about his long rivalry with Alex Pereira during a public Q&A session in Thailand in early 2025. The former UFC middleweight champion surprised many people by openly praising the Brazilian and saying he hopes Pereira keeps winning. The talk happened at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, with fans and fighters listening closely as Adesanya shared his thoughts.Israel Adesanya said that his battles with Alex Pereira shaped a big part of his life. He explained that those fights pushed him to grow, not just inside the cage but also outside it. Even after their tough moments in kickboxing and MMA, Adesanya made one thing clear. There was never real hatred. For him, the rivalry was always about becoming better.Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira have one of the most intense rivalries in modern combat sports. They first met twice in kickboxing before facing each other twice in the UFC. Across those four fights, Alex Pereira leads the series 3–1. In MMA, Alex Pereira defeated Israel Adesanya with a dramatic fifth-round knockout at UFC 281 in November 2022 at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was a tough loss for Adesanya. Still, he did not let it define him. Just five months later, in April 2023 at UFC 287 in Miami, Israel Adesanya knocked Pereira out in the second round to reclaim the middleweight title.While speaking in Thailand, Adesanya looked back calmly. “It was never really about him,” he said. “It was about me. I knew I could always touch him.” He also praised Pereira for his success after moving up to light heavyweight. “I hope he never loses,” Adesanya said. “I hope he retires undefeated.”During the same Q&A at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, Israel Adesanya also spoke about what comes next for him in the UFC. He addressed retirement talk and shared how people in Auckland often stop him to ask if he is done fighting.Adesanya said he now jokes and tells them he is retired, at least until his name shows up on a fight poster again. He explained that chasing belts no longer drives him the same way. “It’s not about belts anymore,” he said. “I’ve got two shiny belts at home.”The former champion said he now wants freedom. He wants to fight without pressure, take chances, and enjoy the sport the way he did before becoming a champion. For Israel Adesanya, passion matters more than titles as he looks ahead to the next phase of his career inside the Octagon.Also Read: Can Ilia Topuria Overcome Khamzat Chimaev And Alex Pereira In The Race For UFC History? Urijah Faber Explains His Pick