Alex Pereira — the only man in combat sports to knockout Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya — is likely en route to the mixed martial arts (MMA) leader.
Pereira (33-6 in kickboxing, 3-1 in MMA) is close to signing a deal with UFC, according to MMA Fighting (following an initial report from De Telegraaf). “Poatan” is expected to join UFC’s 185-pound division after defending his GLORY Light Heavyweight championship against Artem Vakhitov at GLORY 78: “Rotterdam” on Sat., Sept. 4, 2021.
Pereira is also the reigning GLORY Middleweight champion.
Still the only man to KO Israel Adesanya. Alex Pereira. #UFC248 #MMATwitter #Kickboxing #UFC pic.twitter.com/eURfv62DwI
— Marcellino™ (@marsgotsbars) March 8, 2020
Pereira holds two kickboxing wins over Adesanya. He first defeated “The Last Stylebender” via unanimous decision at Glory of Heroes in April 2016. The two fought again at Glory of Heroes 7 in March 2017, scoring a left hook knockout.
The GLORY champion’s last MMA fight took place at LFA 95 in Nov. 2020. Pereira scored a scary powerful knockout punch in the first round that left opponent Thomas Powell immobilized on the mat for an extended period of time.
HOLY _____! Pereira's power is unreal!!! #LFA95 pic.twitter.com/0EAoY6z4fA
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) November 21, 2020
Adesanya (22-1 in MMA) reigns as the UFC Middleweight champion and has never been finished in the sport. He is coming off a successful title defense against Marvin Vettori and is expected to rematch former champion Robert Whittaker later this year.
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