TMZSports.com
“I wish to make this a horror film.”
That’s UFC champion Israel Adesanya, who joined Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV present (airs weekdays on FS1) … making it crystal clear he desires to do much more than merely defeat his rival Alex Pereira when the 2 putting savants battle contained in the Octagon at UFC 281 in NYC.
“I wish to be the primary particular person he sees when he wakes up. I wish to be certain that I’m proper in his line of sight so he is me,” the 33-year-old MMA famous person stated.
Of course, Adesanya and Pereira are headlining the November twelfth card — with two title fights and a Michael Chandler–Dustin Poirier matchup — which can go down inside Madison Square Garden.
Israel and Alex fought twice beforehand and Pereira gained each occasions … in 2016 (resolution) and 2017 (knockout), however they had been kickboxing, NOT MMA (total, Izzy had a kickboxing document of 75-5, whereas Alex was 33-7.)
We requested Adesanya, who final fought and beat Jared Cannonier in July, if folks had been making too massive a deal over the earlier fights.
“100%, though the best way you defend is completely different, the best way you assault is completely different. It’s kinda silly typically. No disrespect to kickboxing,” Izzy stated.
“I all the time felt my putting was higher suited to MMA, for the glove measurement but in addition the best way, the freeness of attacking, I can clinch somebody and journey ’em down. I can elbow, issues like that and I do know he is good at stuff like that as properly however I’ve been doing this quite a bit longer.”
The actuality is … Adesanya hardly ever misplaced kickboxing, however he is by no means misplaced in his division within the UFC (sole L got here towards Jan Blachowicz at mild heavyweight).
Despite it being a a lot completely different self-discipline, Izzy says he did rewatch the fights.
“I’ve seemed again at them and I’ve taken just a few issues away from them however it’s a completely different combat. I’m not the identical man, he isn’t the identical man both, however once more, I’ve been doing this quite a bit longer and other people neglect,” Adesanya stated.
“For me, I’ve reminded them. I all the time do when it is time. I remind folks and present them how nice I’m. This is simply one other a type of occasions I’ve to do it.”
The combat goes down Saturday … contained in the “world’s most well-known enviornment.”