Alex Pereira trained on a hoverboard as a playful jab at Israel Adesanya’s tennis ball drill

In 2022, the stage was set for the long-awaited clash between Alex Pereira and his combat sports rival Israel Adesanya in MMA. Leading up to their bout, Pereira couldn’t resist poking fun at Adesanya’s unique training methods, particularly his reflex drills involving dodging tennis balls.

In response to footage of Adesanya’s unconventional training, Pereira took to Instagram to share his own training clip. Instead of traditional sparring, Pereira showcased himself engaging in light sparring while balancing on a hoverboard, playfully challenging Adesanya to try the same.

Alex Pereira snatch the middleweight championship from Israel Adesanya’s

Their highly anticipated showdown finally occurred at UFC 281, where Pereira managed to snatch the middleweight championship from Adesanya with a stunning fifth-round TKO victory, marking one of the most memorable knockouts of 2023.

However, Pereira’s reign as middleweight champion was short-lived, as Adesanya reclaimed the title in an immediate rematch.

Following his brief stint as middleweight champion, Pereira decided to move up to light heavyweight, feeling that the middleweight division might have been too small for him. His transition proved fruitful as he quickly captured the light heavyweight title and successfully defended it for the first time at UFC 300.

In his latest title defense, Pereira faced off against former champion Jamahal Hill, who was making his return to the octagon after recovering from a severe Achilles tendon injury.

Pereira delivered a masterful performance, knocking out Hill in just three minutes without sustaining any significant damage himself.

What’s particularly impressive about Pereira’s journey is the caliber of opponents he has faced and defeated. Notably, half of his wins have come against former UFC champions.

From Sean Strickland to Jan Błachowicz, Pereira has consistently proven himself against elite competition, solidifying his status as one of the most formidable fighters in the UFC.