Alex Pereira has warned Drake against putting his money on Israel Adesanya in their upcoming UFC rematch.
Pereira is set to defend his UFC middleweight title against 'The Last Stylebender' on April 9 at UFC 287, having stolen the crown from the Nigerian late last year. 'Poatan' has had the beating of Adesanya so far having already beaten him twice during their kickboxing careers, before earning a final-round stoppage in their octagon meeting in 2022.
Rapper Drake is known for placing huge-money bets on UFC fights, and has already put his money where his mouth is on one occasion backing Adesanya successfully to beat Jarod Cannonier. He has yet to indicate which way he may put his faith this time out, but the Brazilian has already handed the Canadian his advice.
He posted on Instagram: "@champagnepapi – I hope this time you bet on the right person.” This comes after Drake placed $1million on the Nigerian's shoulders last time out to finally get his vengeance on Pereira in their maiden UFC meeting but he came up short with just seconds left on the clock in the final period.
Many were surprised with Adesanya's decision to accept an immediate shot at redemption, given the nature of the late stoppage and his record against Pereira. However he is determined to make amends and earn back his crown which he held for so long prior to receiving the challenge of 'Poatan'.
Adesanya faced heavy criticism for his fights being "boring" from fans who were becoming frustrated during his stint as champion, but he may now need to do whatever it takes to revive his status. Pereira faced several alternative challenges from contenders including from rising star Khamzat Chimaev who attempted to hijack Adesanya's position.
Who do you think wins the rematch - Alex Pereira or Israel Adesanya? Let us know in the comments section below
But the ex-title holder believes he is deserving of a shot at the sequel, and has promised it will be entertaining for fans with a violent fight prediction. “I’m excited for this chapter," he said in his first YouTube video since defeat to Pereira. "I like the way the story goes. I made him bloody I made him bleed. If you can make him bleed, you can kill him.
This one, I want to make it a bloodbath like I get up and it’s just red from elbows and just beating him lumpy. Only the first one’s the asterisk, last two he beat me. But I was beating him, I was on my way to beating him. There’s that story there. This time, if I just beat him from bell to bell [sic] 30 minute a** whooping, finish him somewhere in between, all those three don’t matter. He who has the last laugh laughs best."
