Israel Adesanya confirms ‘black magic’ accusations of arch nemesis Alex Pereira

UFC 307 takes shape in Salt Lake City in just over a whole cycle. Reigning champ Alex Pereira meets Khalil Rountree in the main event.

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Israel Adesanya sees Alex Pereira winning against Khalil Rountree

UFC 307 takes shape in Salt Lake City in just over a whole cycle. Reigning champ Alex Pereira meets Khalil Rountree in the main event. No bets barred, the MMA clique is angsty on where the matchup goes. Can โ€˜Poatanโ€™ score his third shock KO win of 2024 against Khalil Rountree Jr.? Old kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya thinks so. Moreover, he bills Pereiraโ€™s wizardry as a great boost for it.

No โ€” Alex Pereira wonโ€™t be joining Hogwarts School of Magic any soon. Pereiraโ€™s reverence for his Pataxรณ Brazilian traditions ranges from his tribal war paint to headgear. Even brass followed through, gifting him custom tribal-themed Venum Shorts. However, Jiri Prochazka billed that his success came due to such shamanic boosts. Israel Adesanya, whoโ€™s faced him four times, says itโ€™s true.

I was besting him, had him on the skatesโ€ฆand then he brought his spirits. You know what Jiri said about the whole JuJu thing, like that? Thatโ€™s real. Thatโ€™s real. So, the last time I fought in Miami, look โ€“ He beats me, and anyone whoโ€™d say oh he was scared; heโ€™s scared. Like bro, I ainโ€™t scared a sh*t. The guy beat me on the biggest arena on the planet Madison Square Garden, same way as the last time in Brazilโ€ฆhad him hurt at the end of the first, and then he gets me in the last run! It is the spiritโ€ฆ

Israel Adesanya during โ€˜The JRE MMA Showโ€™ #164 for PowerfulJRE (@joerogan on YT)

No, it does not mean Israel Adesanya is back to form; heโ€™s still thinking Pereira takes this win. However, even the Pataxรณ tribal warrior himself agrees that โ€˜shamanic boostsโ€™ are just channeling tribal ancestors. But there could be some sauce after all! Izzy did KO him at UFC 287, the only time Pereira did not use his war paint, but the Nigerian-Kiwi did use his ancestral trinkets!

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Josh Barnett took his hobby, Magic: the Gathering, to the next level. Jared Cannonier credited natural blooming pyrite for his second frame TKO of Jack Hermansson. So magic is booming! Even G.O.A.T. standard Jon Jones agrees with its existence. So Pereira isnโ€™t opposed to ending it with his signature left, โ€˜mano a mano,โ€™ but channeling shamanic strength for it.

Israel Adesanya makes a prediction on how Alex Pereira will win at UFC 307

Alex โ€˜Poatanโ€™ Pereira and his stone-handed magic can put anyone away. Is Khalil Rountree going to suffer the same fate? Israel Adesanya spoke about his feelings on the main event of UFC 307, reminiscing about their rivalry. An old peer at GLORY Kickboxing, their multi-sport rivalry has been one for the ages. Pereira won his first three meetings โ€” including a fifth-round TKO of the โ€˜Stylebenderโ€™ at UFC 281 in 2022.

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Israel Adesanya sees Alex Pereira winning against Khalil Rountree (Source: express.co.uk/X/IMAGO)

Meanwhile, Adesanya reclaimed the title five months later at UFC 287 with a devastating KO. This marked Pereiraโ€™s move up to 205. Since then, โ€˜Poatanโ€™ remains unstoppable. On The Adam Carolla Show, Izzy predicted Pereia would win at UFC 307 against Khalil Rountree. Then again, he also drew on his battle experiences to state how and why.

Iโ€™m going to go Pereira, and Iโ€™m going to go TKO or KO, โ€ฆI donโ€™t know what round, but I just feel like itโ€™ll be hard for Rountree to get passed that frameโ€ฆ[can see] leg kicks, leg kicks [from Pereira], and he might catch Rountree as he comes in. Because Rountree is going to be attacking him. โ€ฆ Paper canโ€™t fight paper, so thatโ€™s why youโ€™ve got to fight. But itโ€™s a good fight and I think, again, Pereira by Round 2 or Round 3.

Israel Adesanya on โ€˜The Adam Carolla Showโ€™ (@TheAdamCarollaShow1)

Adesanya believes Khalil Rountree is a dangerous fighter, but Pereiraโ€™s frame, defense, and power will be overwhelming. He veers to his combat rivalโ€™s ability to reach in range and frame in pockets to execute his heavy KOs. Come Saturdayโ€™s UFC 307, itโ€™ll be clear once and all whoโ€™s the better 205lber.

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