Alex Pereira has admitted he understands why Israel Adesanya took aim at his son after landing a knockout win in their world title rematch last Saturday.
For seven years over three fights in two different sports, Adesanya had been chasing an elusive victory over Pereira but was thwarted on each occasion. However, he managed to land a massive knockout win at the fourth time of asking at UFC 287, after which he led one of the wildest celebrations the octagon has ever seen.
Before an impassioned post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, the now two-time champion could be seen pointing to someone in the crowd, before mockingly jumping to the floor and playing dead. It then emerged that he was looking at Pereira's 12-year-old son, who made the same gesture after their second kickboxing fight seven years prior in which the Brazilian won by knockout.
