Published: 5:27, 12 Nov 2023Updated: 7:33, 12 Nov 2023
Alex Pereira sent a message to Israel Adesanya immediately after becoming a two-weight champion at UFC 295.
The former middleweight titleholder knocked out Jiri Prochazka in controversial circumstances before using his post-fight mic time to call out his long-time rival.
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Pereira closed the show in styleCredit: Getty
Prochazka tried to close the show in round two after seemingly buzzing his opponent with a powerful right hand that backed him up against the fence.
Pereira responded to a worrying moment with a short uppercut that floored his rival who quickly popped back to his feet and tried to wrestle.
‘Poatan’ responded by hurling a flurry of elbows at the side of his opponents head and veteran referee Marc Goddard called off the fight when they caused Prochazka to fall backward.
UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier thought the stoppage was a little premature, as did many MMA fans watching along on social media.
However, Prochazka admitted during his post-fight interview that he was in no fit state to continue – but that didn’t stop people debating the legitimacy of Pereira’s second title win.
The Brazilian is just the eigth UFC fighter to win championships in two weight classes, following Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Georges St-Pierre, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo.
Pereira did it quicker than anyone after just seven fights with the company and 11 bouts in the sport of MMA after transition from kickboxing.
The 36-year-old was more interested in looking ahead than reflecting on the monumental thing he had just achieved at Madison Square Garden.
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He sent a message to AdesanyaCredit: Getty
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Prochazka took his first UFC loss in strideCredit: Getty
Pereira sent a message to his long-time rival, ‘The Last Stylebender’.
He said: “I’m not the type of guy to call people out but there’s a guy that back in the day [who] did some interviews and said I was a guy who was just going to stay in the bar.
“That motivated me. He rescued me from a bar to be here today.
“This guy said he just wants to come back and fight in 2027. I think he’s a very talented guy. It’s a waste of talent so I want to rescue him too, to come here and fight.
“I know that I’m not going to do what he did to me to and make me fight three times to fight him at middleweight. I know it’s a guy we have a lot of history.
“I want to make this fight happen. Adesanya, come to Daddy.”
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