UFC 281: I Was Compromised, Kudos To Him, But I'll Be Back – Adesanya Speaks On Loss

Category: Sports News

 

Israel Adesanya has reflected on losing his UFC 281 belt to Alex Pereira on Sunday morning.

The Nigerian-born fighter suffered a shocking fifth round technical knockout loss to Pereira inside Madison Square Garden.

“I’ve been doing this, this is my third fight in 10 months. 

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“Every time I fight, I risk losing what you guys deem as the prestigious — which it is — the belt and all that,” Adesanya said.

He also highlighted how things started to go wrong in the fifth round.

It was a kick to his calf that left him with a dead leg.

READ: UFC 281: Pereira Stuns Adesanya To Claim Middleweight Title

“He hit my peroneal nerve, so that’s why my footwork was compromised.

“Even when I tripped and went backward, I had to do the roly poly. Because I was like, ‘Oh s—, I just tripped over, it’s not like me.’

“So, kudos to him for investing in those calf kicks because it cost me,” Adesanya added.

He also assured that “I’ll be back, it’s not over yet” in a hint that he would take a rematch against Pereira.