Conor McGregor has declared that Israel Adesanya would have defeated Alex Pereira in his last UFC title fight had there been no time limit on rounds.
Back in the original days of MMA, there were essentially no rules fights displaying which martial art would win out in no-holds-barred competition. There was also no time limit to rounds, making it different to the likes of boxing where amateurs compete over two minute rounds and professionals over three, or the new version of MMA with five-minute rounds.
And McGregor reckons that had the original ruleset, or lack thereof, been in play that he would have gotten Pereira out of there when the pair fought last month at UFC 281. Adesanya had the Brazilian on wobbly legs with a big right hand as the bell rang at the end of the first round, and had he been given a few extra seconds likely would have ended the fight.
Instead, Pereira was given time to recover on his stool before coming back out, making his way to the fifth round and then stopping the champion to win the title. They had already fought twice in kickboxing, with the Brazilian winning a controversial decision before a vicious knockout in their rematch.
Responding to a video of Pereira sparring, McGregor wrote on Twitter : "A really solid fighter this guy is! Stability. Himself and Stylebender [Adesanya] is one hell of a rivalry! I can’t wait to see it unfold! Izzy so close each time. No time limit and Izzy still has that belt. Excited for their forthcoming [rematch]! Team Paradigm Sports all the way!"
Despite having lost three times to Pereira between the disciplines, there is a belief in MMA that after his dominant reign atop the middleweight division Adesanya deserves an immediate rematch. It's likely that they will fight again, particularly after the closeness of their three bouts.
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The Nigerian had never lost at 185lb in MMA, and his sole defeat prior to facing Pereira was his move up 20lb to light-heavyweight in 2021 to attempt to become double champion. He was also winning the fight by two rounds heading into the fifth, meaning that the best possible result for Pereira without a knockout would have been a draw.
Speaking about his next fight during a post-event appearance on The MMA Hour, Adesanya explained: "Me and him. It will be for the belt, it's going to be me and him. I'll talk to Dana [White, UFC president] at some point but Mick [Maynard, UFC vice-president of talent relations], he's cool, Mick already knows what's next."
Pereira has discussed the possibility of such a fight, as well as entertaining other bouts including a light-heavyweight contest with Khamzat Chimaev next month for no belt. "It doesn't matter to me, the UFC can choose whoever they want me to fight and if they think a rematch is the fight they are going to do then I will be ready," he said.
