Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya fought four times in two sports. Pereira beat Adesanya twice in kickboxing in China and Brazil, the second by knockout, and then did it again in the UFC, stopping him in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden in 2022 to take the middleweight title. Five months later Adesanya finally knocked Pereira out in Miami to win the belt back.
Overall Pereira leads 3–1. This page covers all four fights, the backstory that started in 2016, a statistical comparison and our verdict.
Head-to-head record
Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya: Pereira 3–1 (2–0 kickboxing, 1–1 MMA). Every big-event meeting between the two, oldest first.
| # | Date | Event | Venue | Match | Result | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 2, 2016 | Glory of Heroes 1 (kickboxing) | Shenzhen, China | Kickboxing | Alex Pereira won | Unanimous decision |
| 2 | Mar 4, 2017 | Glory of Heroes 7 (kickboxing) | São Paulo, Brazil | Kickboxing | Alex Pereira won | KO (left hook), R3 |
| 3 | Nov 12, 2022 | UFC 281 | Madison Square Garden, New York | UFC middleweight title | Alex Pereira won | TKO (punches), R5 2:01 |
| 4 | Apr 8, 2023 | UFC 287 | Kaseya Center, Miami | UFC middleweight title | Israel Adesanya won | KO (punches), R2 4:21 |
Every match: our commentary
Glory of Heroes 1 (kickboxing) · Apr 2, 2016
A close kickboxing fight between two of the best middleweight kickboxers in the world. Pereira's heavier punches and leg kicks earned him the decision.
Glory of Heroes 7 (kickboxing) · Mar 4, 2017
In Pereira's home country Adesanya was competitive on his movement until Pereira landed a left hook in the third round that knocked him out, the only knockout loss of Adesanya's kickboxing career.
UFC 281 · Nov 12, 2022
Adesanya was ahead on the cards and had hurt Pereira badly at the end of the first round. In the fifth, Pereira trapped him on the fence, landed a left hook that wobbled him and followed with a flurry until the referee stopped it with just under three minutes left.
UFC 287 · Apr 8, 2023
Pereira hurt Adesanya with leg kicks and was pressing him toward the fence in the second round when Adesanya, back against the cage, landed two right hands that dropped Pereira face first. Adesanya regained the title and celebrated by lying down next to Pereira, mimicking a gesture from Pereira's son.
The backstory
The rivalry was well known in kickboxing before either man reached the UFC: Adesanya had never been knocked out until Pereira did it in 2017. When Pereira signed with the UFC in 2021 and won three fights, the promotion fast-tracked him to a title shot because of that history.
After UFC 287 Pereira moved up to light heavyweight and became a two-division champion; Adesanya lost the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 later in 2023.
Tale of the tape
| Alex Pereira | Israel Adesanya | |
|---|---|---|
| Height / reach | 6 ft 4 in · 79 in | 6 ft 4 in · 80 in |
| Stance | Orthodox | Switch / orthodox |
| Background | Two-division Glory kickboxing champion | Elite kickboxer and boxer |
| UFC titles | Middleweight and light heavyweight champion | Middleweight champion (two reigns) |
| Record after UFC 287 | 7–2 (MMA) | 24–2 (MMA) |
By the numbers
| Head-to-head stat | Alex Pereira | Israel Adesanya |
|---|---|---|
| Wins vs. each other (all sports) | 3 | 1 |
| Knockouts vs. each other | 2 (2017, 2022) | 1 (2023) |
| UFC record vs. each other | 1–1 | 1–1 |
How fans and critics reacted
UFC 281's late stoppage was seen as a stunning comeback; the speed of the rematch and Adesanya's emphatic knockout at UFC 287 made it one of the best-received title fights of 2023.
Adesanya's lying-down celebration was widely shared and widely debated, but most coverage agreed he had finally answered the question that had followed him for six years.
Our take
Pereira wins the rivalry 3–1, and it is not much of a debate on the record. Adesanya's UFC 287 knockout is the single most dramatic moment, but it is one win from four.
Our view: Adesanya's revenge was the right ending, and the series is the best example of a kickboxing rivalry carrying straight into MMA.
Our verdict: Alex Pereira.
FAQ
How many times did Pereira beat Adesanya?
Three times: twice in kickboxing (2016 and 2017) and once in the UFC at UFC 281 in 2022.
Did Adesanya ever beat Pereira?
Yes, once, by second-round knockout at UFC 287 on April 8, 2023 to regain the middleweight title.
What is Pereira vs. Adesanya overall?
Pereira leads 3–1 across kickboxing and MMA.
More rivalries
Sources: Wikipedia: UFC 281 · Wikipedia: UFC 287 · Wikipedia: Alex Pereira. Facts verified Oct 18, 2026.