Israel Adesanya has disclosed that he was seriously injured heading into his rematch against Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in Miami. Despite the injury, Adesanya chose not to withdraw, stating the bout was too personal to call off.
Israel Adesanya has revealed for the first time that he entered his UFC 287 rematch against Alex Pereira carrying a serious injury, yet chose to compete anyway because the fight meant too much to him personally to walk away from.
Adesanya, now 36 years old and representing Nigeria out of City Kickboxing, holds a professional record of 24 wins and 6 losses and is currently ranked eighth in the middleweight division. Standing six-foot-four with a remarkable 80-inch reach, he averages 4.03 significant strikes per minute and lands them at a 48 percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect a technically precise, volume-based striker whose output at UFC 287 came under those difficult physical circumstances.
His opponent that night, Alex Pereira, has since moved up to light heavyweight and now reigns as champion of that division. The Brazilian, who fights out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness, is 39 years old and carries a record of 13 wins and 4 losses. Pereira is one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, averaging 5.16 significant strikes per minute at an exceptional 62 percent accuracy rate, making him a punishing and efficient finisher at six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Adesanya's disclosure reframes the UFC 287 result in the context of a compromised performance, adding weight to his rivalry with Pereira.
- The two men share a storied history across both MMA and kickboxing, giving any revelation about their bouts heightened significance for the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
- Adesanya sits at eighth in the middleweight rankings, and how this news shapes his competitive narrative could influence future matchmaking at 185 pounds.
