Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira’s awkward encounter at the airport

In a turn of events, perennial rivals Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira seem to be ensnared in a relentless dance of destiny, their paths perpetually crossing in the most unexpected ways. On a regular Monday, their digital avatars on respective social media platforms chronicled another chance encounter – this time at an airport.

A touch of humor entered the fray via Pereira’s video, which showed a camera-shy Adesanya skirting the limelight while journeying with co-UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski. Not to be outdone, Adesanya’s footage captured a confident stride forward, with his recurring opponent Pereira lingering just a few paces behind.

The chronicles of this enduring rivalry extend back to two fiery kickboxing matches, followed by a high-octane showdown inside the UFC octagon for the middleweight title at the UFC 281 main event, held last November at the revered Madison Square Garden. In a thrilling twist, Pereira turned the tables on Adesanya, sealing a comeback victory by stopping him in the fifth round.

However, the rivalry didn’t end there. Five months later, Adesanya seized his moment of retribution, flooring Pereira with a savage second-round knockout, reclaiming his title with style.

As we move forward, Pereira is set to transition into the light heavyweight division, poised to battle ex-champion Jan Blachowicz at the UFC 291 event in July. Conversely, Adesanya is expected to fortify his reign, defending his middleweight title at the UFC 293 main event come September, marking the promotion’s triumphant return to Sydney, Australia. Stay tuned to this intense saga, the battle drums are just starting to beat.