In a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Israel Adesanya shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight between Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree at UFC 307, while also reflecting on his own journey and his loss to Dricus Du Plessis.
Adesanya, who is no stranger to facing top-tier competition, expressed confidence in Pereira’s ability to overcome Rountree. Despite Rountree’s dangerous knockout power and his fast hands, Adesanya believes Pereira’s skill set, particularly his length and precision, will prove to be too much for Rountree. “Pereira has that momentum behind him,” Adesanya said, noting how Pereira’s frame and reach give him an edge in this matchup. He added, “Rountree’s gonna have to get inside, but Pereira is so sneaky with his strikes that I just don’t think Rountree has the tools to handle him.”
Drawing from his own experience fighting Pereira, Adesanya also detailed what makes Pereira such a unique challenge. The power and accuracy of Pereira’s leg kicks were a major topic, with Adesanya describing the sensation of being hit with one of Pereira’s kicks as unlike anything he had ever felt before. “He kicks you with the back of a hammer,” Adesanya explained. “It’s not just about power, it’s the way the force travels through your body—it completely shuts you down.” With his deep understanding of Pereira’s fighting style, Adesanya believes the Brazilian’s ability to recover and stay composed will be key to his victory over Rountree.
While Adesanya’s focus was on the Pereira-Rountree fight, he also opened up about his own recent struggles, including his loss to Dricus Du Plessis. Adesanya reflected on the mental toll of fighting someone who has previously defeated you, mentioning how facing Pereira again after losing to him multiple times in kickboxing was a daunting mental challenge. “It’s not just about physical preparation, it’s about overcoming that psychological hurdle of facing someone who’s beaten you before,” Adesanya admitted. “But when I finally got the win, it meant so much because I knew I could do it.”
Talking about his loss to Du Plessis, Adesanya was quick to acknowledge his own mistakes. He expressed no regret about his fight with Du Plessis, but admitted there were areas where he could have been sharper. “I knew I could have done things differently. It’s all about getting back in the gym and improving,” he said. Adesanya emphasized how important it is to learn from losses and how he views every fight as an opportunity to grow and become a better fighter. Despite the loss, he remains focused on the future and is eager to get back to the top.
In his own career, Adesanya has learned to balance staying active in the cage with taking the time to recover when needed. After taking 11 months off to heal, Adesanya mentioned how the break had been beneficial for his body, giving him time to focus on conditioning and making sure he was in peak physical shape for his next challenge. “The time off helped me recover physically, and now I’m ready to get back to work,” he said. “I’m not as young as I used to be, but I still feel great, and I’m ready to fight.”
As for his future in the UFC, Adesanya is realistic about his career’s trajectory. “I’m definitely on the other side of my career,” he said, acknowledging that he no longer has as many years ahead of him but still wants to make the most of his time in the sport. “I want to fight again, stay active, and continue to evolve as a fighter.”
In conclusion, Israel Adesanya’s insights into Pereira vs. Rountree, his past losses, and his career moving forward reveal a fighter who remains determined, focused, and always looking to improve. As UFC 307 approaches, all eyes will be on Pereira as he seeks to continue his dominance in the division, while Adesanya continues to reflect on his own evolution in the sport.
