Google News Michael Bisping: Adesanya to Use Wrestling as Unexpected Weapon Against Pereira
by FARUK IMAMOVIC | VIEW 645
On April 8th, two of the UFC's biggest names, Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira, will face off in a much-anticipated rematch at UFC 287. This will be their fourth meeting in total, and former champion Adesanya has yet to secure a victory over his opponent.
The Pressure is On
In a recent statement, Adesanya declared that this is his final chance to prove himself and that all the pressure is on him in this match. As seen in videos on his YouTube channel, Adesanya has been training extensively in wrestling, a discipline in which he found success against Pereira in their last bout.
A Possible Element of Surprise
Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes that Adesanya could use his wrestling abilities as an unexpected weapon against Pereira. Bisping explains, “I think he’s probably gonna do similar to the first fight, but you never know.
Maybe he’s gonna come out there and go for a double leg takedown right off the bat. Because he was the better grappler, he was the better – he’s just a better grappler, simple as that. He took him down, controlled him for a little bit.
And who knows, he might be trying to go for a submission this time. Because the thing is, you don’t have to be a great wrestler to learn the mechanics to do a double leg takedown. Certainly when you’re Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira isn’t necessarily gonna expect that off the bat.
Look, Izzy can breakdance, okay. He’s a phenomenally coordinated fighter. Okay, he’s got way better coordination than me. I can’t dance, I certainly can’t breakdance, but I could learn how to do a double leg takedown.
And what I’m saying is if I can do that, then so can Israel Adesanya." With both fighters bringing their best to the octagon, the highly-anticipated rematch between Adesanya and Pereira is sure to be a spectacle. The pressure is on Adesanya to secure his first victory over Pereira, who has already defeated him twice by stoppage. It will be interesting to see what kind of strategy Adesanya brings to the table in this crucial matchup.
