Israel Adesanya knocks out Alex Pereira to recapture UFC title

Nigerian mixed martial arts fighter, Israel Adesanya, defeated his old foe, Alex Pereira, for the first time since both fighters first fought in 2017.

Sunday morning's early fight at the Octagon in Miami was the 33-year-old's first win over the Brazilian who had defeated Adesanya in two consecutive fights. It was also the second time both fighters would fight in the venue where Adesanya first lost his historic fight in the UFC's middleweight category.

Their last fight in November 2022, raised so much doubt about Adesanya's top level performance in the sports where he lost for the first time in his middleweight career to Periera who knocked out the Nigerian in the fifth round.

But the Sunday night fight only lasted for two rounds as Adesanya with just two punches midway into the second round dazed Pereira who had earlier in the first round dominated the bout with his trademark jabs and calf kicks.

Adesanya, whose back was against the net was hit heavily by the Brazilian and Nigerian fans might have thought he would drop the baton just like he did last November before his first right-hand shot disorganised Pereira.