Trilogy incoming? Hope not
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- Thread starter Fortitude
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Looking forward to the trilogy fight already.
What a card, by the way!
What a card, by the way!
Why not? 2 entertaining fights so far , and it's finely poised between both.
Pereira too confident. He had him already by his calves but man what a shot by Izzy
I like the guy but man he is so cringe 
Earth, did you hear that?
They keep changing the sound to crowd noise when he's talking
Think Rogan goes home and jerks off to these guys?
Already looking forward to seeing him lose again eventually but man, that can't have been an easy mental hurdle to overcome. Awesome KO as well. Why oh why didn't Alex just keep chipping away at the legs though 
There has to be a trilogy now given that no one else in the division is close to the level of these two.
Pentalogy if you include kickboxing
I've never said "WOW!" To a fight in my entire life!
Wow! Again!
Wow! Again!
Oh my fecking God, shouting at my TV and now sitting here in utter disbelief. Thought that was over 5” before it was over.
Surely Izzy won’t be called fake any longer? He’s backed his word and being as bona fide and certified as anyone in the sport, and unlike the vast majority, overcome extreme adversity whilst doing so.
If ever someone showed the heart, mental fortitude and conviction of a champion it’s Adesanya in overcoming what must’ve become his final level boss. Very few ever do that. Guy should get the most props for it, regardless of whether he’s ‘cringe’ or annoying etc.
This is the kind of comeback story reserved for Rocky or the like in movies, not sport.
If ever someone showed the heart, mental fortitude and conviction of a champion it’s Adesanya in overcoming what must’ve become his final level boss. Very few ever do that. Guy should get the most props for it, regardless of whether he’s ‘cringe’ or annoying etc.
This is the kind of comeback story reserved for Rocky or the like in movies, not sport.
Not sure he's ever been truly outclassed in any fight against pereira, normally just gets detonated on.
Mad respect for Izzy, based on the actual fights against Pereira he had a chance for sure. But to overcome the mental aspect of losing three times is truly phenomenal. Do or die, and he fecking did it alright. His determination seemed truly next level during the face off at the weigh-ins, so there was definitely something in the air.
Dana was suggesting Pereira might fight at 205 next, he had to drain himself completely again to make weight. And given his age, his body might need a rest from that. Some point in time I do hope they will get the trilogy done.
Izzy looked great out there and think it would have been a classic fight. Pereira just went into rush mode and got played like a violin.
I know it's 2-0 AP in kickboxing or 3-1 AP overall but in MMA it's 1-1 and needs a trilogy bout!
I know it's 2-0 AP in kickboxing or 3-1 AP overall but in MMA it's 1-1 and needs a trilogy bout!
What
I wonder if the trilogy fight will happen. Seems perfectly poised, but the energy seems to be that this is rivalry is now put to bed. Which is very odd considering Izzy is technically 1-3.
Pereira should probably move up to 205 I guess, or at least fight less often at 185. Preparing for two 5 round title fights in the space of 4 months with heavy weight cuts both times no doubt takes it's toll on the body.
MW division becomes much less interesting again to be honest with Izzy back as champ. Only Khamzat is really an interesting challenger at this point.
Pereira should probably move up to 205 I guess, or at least fight less often at 185. Preparing for two 5 round title fights in the space of 4 months with heavy weight cuts both times no doubt takes it's toll on the body.
MW division becomes much less interesting again to be honest with Izzy back as champ. Only Khamzat is really an interesting challenger at this point.
Yeah my thoughts too
I can’t see any other option than a third and final fight. There are simply no other viable contenders than those two in the division at the moment.
Yeah and it's deserved. Both fights were very good.
The more I watch the more it seems like a lucky shot made in desperation instead of a wily 4d chess move by Izzy to lure him in then knock him out.
Definitely.
No matter how good you are, your tactic is never gonna be "I'll let the huge scary dude punch and knee me a lot so he gets too confident".
nice scenes backstage between them
Dont think so. Look how quickly he takes his hands up, too early imo. Seems like he wanted to get those shots in the counter.
Trilogy wont happen imo too much of a weight cut for Alex. And happy for Burns to win, great fighter and Masvidal better retire, never liked him either
The sequence leading up to Perreira getting Izzy on the ropes was initiated by Alex. Izzy would be nuts to allow him to do that intentionally given what just happened to him in the last fight. Perreira simply hits too hard to take that sort of risk. He just got lucky with the first shot, which allowed him to launch the second one that knocked him out.
He left himself open for the counter. No defence when throwing his attacks. No luck about that. Careless.
Round 2 only and I assume Izzy anticipated that move. To me Alex‘s initial attack did not look as if Izzy would be in trouble yet he goes to the fence and stays as before he turned all the time. Anyhow we never know but in general, the hits you dont see coming make the biggest knockouts
I don't know whether it was a deliberate rope a dope, probably not but I don't agree he just got lucky. That little left jab that sends his head over towards the follow up right hand was an absolute beaut. He didn't see it until it hit and from that point he was in trouble.
It wasn't 4D chess by Izzy, but he definitely didn't get lucky. He's just such an incredibly smart and sneaky fighter.
Previous fight he almost knocked Pereira out in the last 10 seconds of the first round, if you watch it back it feels like the round is over. And then Adesanya strikes just when Pereira doesn't expect it anymore, it's what Izzy does best. Now he did it again, Pereira felt like he had him, was ready to go all in, didn't see the shot coming and that was it.
Izzy's not always been the most spectacular or exciting fighter, but like he says himself, he's a hunter. And his intelligence makes him extremely difficult to beat, you have to give massive credit for the mental fortitude as well to do this against a man that beat him three times in two different sports.
Previous fight he almost knocked Pereira out in the last 10 seconds of the first round, if you watch it back it feels like the round is over. And then Adesanya strikes just when Pereira doesn't expect it anymore, it's what Izzy does best. Now he did it again, Pereira felt like he had him, was ready to go all in, didn't see the shot coming and that was it.
Izzy's not always been the most spectacular or exciting fighter, but like he says himself, he's a hunter. And his intelligence makes him extremely difficult to beat, you have to give massive credit for the mental fortitude as well to do this against a man that beat him three times in two different sports.
From the horse's mouth. Will be interesting to see how he fairs at his natural weight. His power and punch resistance should take a leap at the very least.
Hopefully Izzy follows him up there for another crack at the title
Because I feel we saw all there is to see.
Izzy is the better fighter, but Pereira's size and power was the equaliser to make it competitive.
Now, with Pereira getting old and the weight-cuts destroying his chin, I feel there is no point on a next fight. It will only get worse for Alex. The way he goes down reminds me of the KOs Bigfoot Silva started eating in pretty much all of his last fights.
Plus the fact he didn't deserved a shot to the title in the first place (nevermind a second shot). I want the division to keep going, as shitty as it is.
A third fight with Whittaker is more challenging, or even a fight with that crazy bastard Du Plessis. A fight for the king of Africa. Loser can't go back ever again.
If Pereira got a shot after beating fecking joke Strickland, Du Plessis deserves one after his winning streak.
I wish Alex good luck at LHW. As long as he don't fight Ankalaev, Rakic or Jan, who would wrestlefeck him, that left hook could be dangerous for anyone.
If Alex gets the LHW belt somehow, then he can rematch Izzy in a champ Vs champ fight.
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Speaking of chins, is Max's chin finally getting shattered this weekend? Or will he deliver the same clinic he does to anyone not named Alex Volkanovski?
Even though every train must stop at some point, I've been riding Arnold Allen all along and not stopping now, specially at those underdog numbers.
Even though every train must stop at some point, I've been riding Arnold Allen all along and not stopping now, specially at those underdog numbers.
I like Max a lot but also big fan of Allen and want him to win this.
Would be amusing if that's fated. Izzy already said he only has a few more fights left before he calls time, so unless some genuine contenders emerge, there's maybe 2-3 defences before he hangs them up, or... potentially goes up for one last shot.
Pereira has a different world up there, though. We'll see if he's got that Rumble-power level scaling or not soon enough. Without that threat of instant KO, he'll get mauled.
It sort of makes sense given that the only challenge at 185 would be a 3rd fight with Izzy. After that, its a long way down to the next contender. At 205, he could square up against a Rakic or an Ankalaev to see if he is ready for a title shot.