• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Israel Adesanya seen taunting Alex Pereira’s son after brutal knockout

Home> MMA

Published 02:15 11 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Israel Adesanya seen taunting Alex Pereira’s son after brutal knockout

The middleweight champion has explained the reason for his 'petty' celebrations.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Israel Adesanya has explained why he taunted Alex Pereira's son after knocking out the Brazilian to reclaim his middleweight title at UFC 287.

With Pereira lying on the canvas out cold, Adesanya began celebrating his historic victory.

To start with, the Nigerian-born New Zealander mimicked his rival by firing three imaginary arrows into his body while he was unconcious.

Wheeling away in celebration, he then pointed towards Pereira's son in the crowd and taunted him by pretending to be KO'd himself, collapsing to the ground in a heap.

It was a savage celebration to say the least, but it turns out there was a hidden meaning behind it afterall.

Advert

“I’m petty,” Adesanya said in his post-fight press conference.

“I remember. The first time he knocked me out in Brazil, his son came into the ring and then just started to lie dead next to me. I’m like, ‘You f****** little a******, I’ll whoop your ass if your dad don’t do it for you.’ I looked for his kid, I pointed at him, and I saw him and I was like, ‘Hey, hey, hey,’ just to remind him.”

The footage of the celebrations instantly went viral.

Advert

But when new angles emerged of Pereira's kids crying in their mother's arms, viewers began questioning Adesanya's actions, labelling him "pathetic" and "disgusting".

Steve Ibbotson Kickboxing wrote on Instagram: “A 35-year-old man holding a grudge against a boy is the weakest thing I’ve ever seen. Awesome fighter, awesome finish and I knew it was going to happen. But the dude has zero class.”



On the other hand, some praised it, saying that Pereira's son got taught a valuable lesson.

Advert

But despite all that, Adesanya admitted there's no bad blood between the pair

“I saw [Pereira] backstage. We’re cool,” he added.

“He’s a great champion, he’s a warrior. His story, I mean that, I’m the antagonist of his story. He’s a f****** beast, coming from where he’s come from. The adversities he’s been through in his life to get to where he’s gotten now, and taking me out the way he has, it’s a f****** beautiful story for him. But like I said, tonight it’s not about his story, it’s about my story, which is history.”

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Instagram/Belal Muhammad

Topics: MMA, UFC, Israel Adesanya

Max Sherry
Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

X

@maxysherry

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
2 days ago
3 days ago
6 days ago
  • Greg Doherty / Contributor via GettyGreg Doherty / Contributor via Getty
    a day ago

    Rampage Jackson makes outrageous Syko Stu accusation as Raja row escalates

    The UFC legend has weighed in as the Raja Jackson row continues

    MMA
  • Joe Rogan Experience Joe Rogan Experience
    2 days ago

    Joe Rogan put podcast guest's life in danger with one question he refused to answer

    Joe Rogan respectfully moved on after his podcast guest refused to give an answer.

    MMA
  • Getty ImagesGetty Images
    3 days ago

    Conor McGregor receives huge offer for UFC return fight at the White House

    Conor McGregor has received a mouth-watering offer from a UFC legend to fight him at the White House

    MMA
  • KickKick
    6 days ago

    Brendan Schaub facing backlash from fans over comments about Raja Jackson and Syko Stu incident

    The former MMA fighter has given his take on the incident.

    MMA
  • Dricus du Plessis tells Israel Adesanya he doesn't 'take kindly to threats' and proposes fight at UFC Africa
  • Israel Adesanya goes nuclear on Dricus De Plessis in wild X-rated rant, he only wants to fight him next
  • Alex Volkanovski's reaction to Israel Adesanya's KO is unreal, you can see the relief in his eyes
  • Israel Adesanya's rival claims he is 'out of UFC 287' thanks to unlikely injury, he's the biggest troll