Alex Pereira Offers Support to Rival Israel Adesanya Ahead of UFC Seattle Return

Former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira has extended a powerful message of encouragement to his past rival, Israel Adesanya, as "The Last Stylebender" prepares for his highly anticipated comeback fight at UFC Seattle.

Adesanya is slated to face Joe Pyfer this Saturday, aiming to snap a three-fight losing streak and secure his first victory in three years. His last appearance in the Octagon resulted in a TKO defeat to Nassourdine Imavov in a recent bout.

Significantly, Adesanya's most recent triumph came against Pereira himself at UFC 287, where he delivered a stunning knockout in one of the sport's most memorable finishes. This victory was particularly poignant, considering their extensive history in both professional kickboxing and mixed martial arts, where Pereira had previously held a dominant record over Adesanya.

Despite their intense past rivalry, Pereira and Adesanya have publicly demonstrated a shift towards mutual respect, notably sharing a cordial moment at UFC 312 last year. Pereira's latest gesture, a heartfelt social media post, further underscores this evolved relationship.

Pereira's Inspiring Words to Adesanya: "Go Show Your Best"

In his recent Instagram post, Pereira shared a classy message directly addressing Adesanya:

"Saturday is fight night once again. Much respect to Israel Adesanya — we’ve shared the octagon and moments that became part of my journey. That loss taught me a lot; it pushed me to evolve not only as a fighter, but as a man. I grew, matured, and used it as fuel to reach a higher level in the sport and in life."

"Regardless of rivalry, I know what it means to step in there — the years of work, the pressure, the sacrifice. That’s why I wish you a great fight. Go in focused and show your best."

"We keep evolving. See you at the top CHAMA."

Meanwhile, Alex Pereira is also preparing for a significant career move. He is set to pursue a historic third divisional title, making his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane for the interim title at UFC Freedom 250 this summer. This move comes as the undisputed heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, continues his recovery from multiple eye injuries.

Pereira will undoubtedly be watching UFC Seattle with keen interest this weekend, clearly expressing a strong rooting interest in Adesanya’s successful return to the win column.