Israel Adesanya made good on what was likely his last chance to beat Alex Pereira when he recaptured the middleweight title from his rival in the UFC 287 headliner.
After losing twice in kickboxing and then again in the octagon this past November, Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) finally got one over against Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) on Saturday with a second-round knockout victory at Kaseya Center in Miami.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Adesanya regaining gold from Pereira at UFC 287.
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MMA Junkie
Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya are in the octagon for the #UFC287 main event. Who wins?
Full coverage: https://t.co/Mqi5qMbCAz pic.twitter.com/7vf7vbDDmn
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023
Nick Kalikas
#UFC287 World Middleweight Title Closing Betting Odds via @CircaSports
Alex Pereira +120
Israel Adesanya -140@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) April 9, 2023
UFC
The former champ is laser focused on getting this W 👀 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/8zDZJrRXdL
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
UFC
Ready to meet a familiar foe!@AlexPereiraUFC is all business before our #UFC287 main event! pic.twitter.com/4LAilBWvMf
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
UFC
The time has come to settle it! 🏆
Pereira versus Adesanya for twenty-five minutes or less begins NOW! #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/JwYGzbaVVL
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) April 9, 2023
Kevin Iole
Both guys throwing a lot of kicks in opening minute. #UFC287
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) April 9, 2023
Bloody Elbow
Low kick again from Pereira. Adesanya with a high kick. Low kicks from Pereira. Adesanya lands his own. High kick from Pereira. 1-2 from Adesanya. #UFC287
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) April 9, 2023
John Morgan
Adesanya takes the first, 10-9. So much tension. #UFC287
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) April 9, 2023
Aaron Bronsteter
Very close, tactical round to start things off.
10-9 Pereira by a slim margin.
More volume and investment in the calf kicks.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) April 9, 2023
Nick Kalikas
#UFC287 LIVE In-Game Wagering Odds After RD-1 via @CircaSports
Alex Pereira +120
Israel Adesanya -150@UFC 💰 | @ESPNPlus | @ESPN— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) April 9, 2023
Khamzat Chimaev
#UFC287 👀
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) April 9, 2023
Michael Chandler
Both guys downloading…locked and loaded for round 2. Izzy opens up this round. Alex will look for big shots….especially that left hook. #ufc287
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) April 9, 2023
Bloody Elbow
Body kick from Adesanya starts round 2. And another. Jabs from Pereira and body work. Lands a couple big uppercuts. Adesany counters but eats a hard left hook. #UFC287
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) April 9, 2023
Benito Lopez
Pereira really is a walking boss fight 😂
— Benito Lopez (@Savage_530) April 9, 2023
Luke Thomas
ISRAEL ADESANYA GETS REVENGE!!!!!! HE WINS VIA KO!!!
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) April 9, 2023
UFC
STYLEBENDER JUST DID THAT!!!!!! #UFC287
— UFC (@ufc) April 9, 2023
Belal Muhammad
Ohhhhhh emmmmmm geeeee
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 9, 2023
Kenny Florian
😱😱😱😱😱😱
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) April 9, 2023
Simon Samano
The ultimate redemption for Israel Adesanya! #UFC287
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) April 9, 2023
Mike Perry
👀 congrats @stylebender
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) April 9, 2023
Terrance McKinney
Izzy is back 🔥🔥🔥🔥 let’s go 🥶 🥶 wow that’s huge
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) April 9, 2023
Ben Askren
😳😳😳 damn Periera was fighting really good and got a bit careless. Damn!
— Funky (@Benaskren) April 9, 2023
Casey O'Neill
The king is back! Izzy looked awesome tonight, and that rivalry has been just amazing. Wow #UFC287
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) April 9, 2023
Marlon Vera
I’m so happy yes Izzy
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) April 9, 2023
UFC
ISRAEL ADESANYA KNOCKS ALEX PEREIRA OUT COLD! 🥶
🏆 @Stylebender WITH THE SWEETEST VICTORY OF HIS CAREER! #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/2QnUA9JJVi
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 9, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski
That’s how you do it baby…LFG!! #ufc287
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 9, 2023
Khamzat Chimaev
Congratulations @stylebender see you soon 🫡
— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) April 9, 2023
Fight Oracle
Best of 7?
— FightOracle ™ (@fightoracle) April 9, 2023
Derek Brunson
I thought Izzy would
Win this one . The universe wants a part III #UFC287— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 9, 2023
Francis Ngannou
The best middleweight of all time and I'm not arguing with anyone.@stylebender #andNEW 🫅🫅🫅
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) April 9, 2023
UFC
Title Reclaimed! 🏆@Stylebender takes the UFC middleweight title back to Auckland! #AndNew #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/vReMHLlfG5
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) April 9, 2023
Andreas Hale
Look at how Adesanya hides the right hand as Pereira thinks he has him dead to rights.
Whoops!
POW!!
Surprise!!!Oooooooooooooh!!!!#UFC287
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) April 9, 2023
Chris Weidman
Wow ! What a fight !! This was the first time in 3 fights that adesanya was actually losing and also now the first time he wins. Crazy game. Big congrats to him ! #ufc287
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) April 9, 2023
Bo Nickal
I’m coming #UFC287
— Bo Nickal (@NoBickal) April 9, 2023
Jan Blachowicz
Congratulations on a successful rematch, @stylebender. If you want to try another one, you know where to find me. This time at middleweight for your belt. #UFC287
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) April 9, 2023
Dana White
"I think Pereira probably moves to 205": Dana White doesn't see an MMA trilogy between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya being next.
Full video: https://t.co/vTg1UmEty9 pic.twitter.com/86cvQJ2Q0V
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023
Israel Adesanya
"Now he's got to do the hard yards": Israel Adesanya has no intention of giving Alex Pereira an immediate trilogy bout. 👀
Full video: https://t.co/vTg1UmEty9 pic.twitter.com/PRIA0aoajS
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023
Israel Adesanya
"I pray to God he keeps winning. I will gladly drag his carcass across South Africa."
Israel Adesanya had STRONG words for a UFC middleweight he wouldn't name. 😳
Full video: https://t.co/vTg1UmEty9 pic.twitter.com/DqrVqX0FaR
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023
Dana White
"He's special. He's different.": UFC president Dana White had high praise for Israel Adesanya after regaining gold. 👏#UFC287 | Full video: https://t.co/4rh6kWDxEw pic.twitter.com/e4hCctp3AL
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023
MMA Junkie
"Petty" Israel Adesanya explains why he taunted Alex Pereira's son during his #UFC287 title-winning celebration. 😬
Full interview: https://t.co/0EO21LhckK pic.twitter.com/8v5dqVTRfu
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023
MMA Junkie
Israel Adesanya finally got his revenge on Alex Pereira 🥶#UFC287 | Full story: https://t.co/9BaXWE4nfH pic.twitter.com/Hks5KzX1YV
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023
Quinton Jackson
WOW!!! The champ with a statement. @stylebender you da man 👊🏾😮 pic.twitter.com/EyJJyBA8cI
— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) April 9, 2023
ESPN MMA
Adesanya has now beaten every fighter ranked in the top five of the UFC's middleweight division.
The king of the middleweights has returned 👑 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/FZRJETxyPV
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 9, 2023
Luke Thomas
These reactions from Usman, Volk, Ngannou and GSP after Adesanya’s KO over Pereira at #UFC287 really give the impression last night will serve as a historic MMA moment and a “where we’re you when?”years from now. pic.twitter.com/Y5zGbv3o4v
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) April 9, 2023
ESPN MMA
Nothing but respect between Adesanya and Pereira 👏 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/LbUA7rWvgL
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 9, 2023
SportsCenter
Israel Adesanya silences the doubters at #UFC287 🤫 pic.twitter.com/XFKFEroXgq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 9, 2023
ESPN MMA
GSP’s reaction to Adesanya’s knockout over Pereira 😮 #UFC287 pic.twitter.com/GyWGcYK6rP
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 9, 2023
