ALEX Pereira has refused to concede Australia’s Robert Whittaker should be next up for a UFC middleweight title shot – and even suggested Israel Adesanya is a tougher fight for him.
Only days after Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia he was next in line for a title fight, the reigning champ has questioned if ‘The Reaper’ is even worthy.
Yet in what could be the start of an exciting new rivalry for Australia’s first UFC champion, Whittaker said Pereira couldn’t possibly comprehend the problems he posed for him.
“He doesn’t understand,” Whittaker said simply of the champ’s brush off. “And to be fair, nobody does until they’re across from me.
“You see that with all of my opponents.”
Watch UFC 287: Pereira v Adesanya 2 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday April 9 from 12pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
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Five months after winning the UFC title in spectacular fashion, Pereira now looks to defend against Adesanya at UFC 287 this Sunday.
Despite having now famously beaten the New Zealander three times across two sports – including twice via KO – he remains an outsider with bookmakers.
Yet while he has continually proved too good for Adesanya, the champ insists his New Zealand rival still offers a tougher test than Bobby Knuckles.
Asked who would be a tougher fight for him, Pereira said: “It’s hard to tell but I think Izzy would be the harder fight.
“There’s a lot of people saying that (with Whittaker), our styles don’t match and that he could bring me down to the ground.
“But with the way that I’ve been training and the way I’m feeling I don’t think that would be much of a problem.”
So is he deserving of the next shot then?
“Right now I’m not thinking ahead,” the champ continued, speaking via interpreter.
“Once the fight is done we will see the options.
“Robert Whittaker is a great fighter, very experienced.
“But it’s not only him but all of the other opponents in the division who could be a good fight.”
To which the Aussie says what?
“Stylistically, Pereira knows what Izzy can do (well),” Whittaker said. “So I guess that’s where his comment comes from.”
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Elsewhere, Pereira said Adesanya had not given himself enough time to develop the new skills required to win what will be a fourth showdown between the two.
“He cannot beat me because of my will to win, my will to learn and my will to evolve,” he said.
“I think I’m way more determined in all of the aspects.
“I also believe that by beating him three times – twice by knockout – this plays a big part with his head.
“Three losses is hard to forget.
“I’ve never lost three times to someone, or even two, but I think that definitely gives an advantage for me.”
So no chance Adesanya can beat you?
“I honestly don’t believe he can because there hasn’t been enough time to learn anything new,” Pereira added.
“I believe he’s going to bring pretty much the same game.
“If there is any change to his game, I think it would be under desperation. If the fight isn’t going his way he will try something new.”
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Whittaker added that, no matter who he fights for the title, it will be a far different showing to his most recent championship bouts against Adesanya.
“Izzy has always been a challenge,” he said. “Always will be.
“But between my first and second fights with him, you can see the climb I’ve made.
“That second fight between us, it was close.
“Really close. Compared to the first time we fought, it was like night and day. So you can see the trajectory I’m on.
“You could see it in my next fight with Marvin Vettori too.
“It wasn’t close.
“So I’m getting better.
“The gap has narrowed.
“And I’m going to bring something different again in fight three.
“Mentally I’m up for that challenge.”
Watch UFC 287: Pereira v Adesanya 2 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday April 9 from 12pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >