STYLEBENDER EXACTS HIS REVENGE AND FLATLINES ALEX PEREIRA TO WIN BACK THE UFC CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
HOLY SHIT! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!
STYLEBENDER JUST FLATLINED ALEX PEREIRA IN THE SECOND ROUND AT UFC 287!!!
After a super close first round, Izzy started pressing forward in the second, taking more risks, and landing more and more - but there was one issue: Alex Pereira's leg kicks were adding up, and clearly affecting Stylebender EARLY.
It was only the second round, and you could see Adesanya's leg start buckling under each and every one, causing him to switch stances, and when he got backed up against the cage, things looked to be going sideways - UNTIL THEY WEREN'T!
Stylebender came over the top with a right hand that rocked Pereira right away, and then another DIRECTLY on the temple to put him out cold. Throw in an extra hammerfist for good measure, and you've got one of the most incredible finishes we've ever seen in the octagon.
I mean, SERIOUSLY - this is a storybook ending for a movie!
Alex Pereira has had Stylebender's number for their ENTIRE CAREERS. Alex knocked Izzy out in the kickboxing ring, chased him to the UFC, climbed the ranks as quickly as anyone, and then knocked him out for UFC gold back in November. If Adesanya loses AGAIN here, his legacy may be completely different. This was a true legacy fight and he went out there and put on the performance of his career. That's gonna be remembered FOREVER.
He needed this knockout soooooo badly, too! I've been sick and tired of hearing casuals call him boring for a while now!
Plus, turning the bow and arrow celebration back on him?!
ALL TIME. Absolutely loved it.
I assume we're gonna get another rematch after that main event, rounding out a UFC trilogy between the two, because Pereira looked pretty damn good until those deadly final shots landed….and that's an easy rivalry to sell!
I wouldn't be mad at it, either. It feels like the peak of drama when these two are in the cage together.
Overall, I think UFC 287 was a great event for the UFC. We saw plenty of fun fights and finishes throughout the night, we saw a legend retire, and had a moment that'll go down in UFC history to cap it all off. Can't ask for much more.
Welcome back to the top, Stylebender. Happy to have you back!