Adesanya only willing to fight Pereira again for UFC light heavyweight title

Israel Adesanya would only agree to face UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira in mixed martial arts for a third time if it's for one specific title.

"If (Pereira) wins the belt at 205, I'll do it again," Adesanya said Monday on "The MMA Hour." "But if not - I think he's done with it. I'm done with it. Everyone else wants to see it, but we've moved on. It's life."

Adesanya and Pereira, who are former kickboxing rivals, have fought twice in the UFC. Pereira took away Adesanya's middleweight title with a come-from-behind, fifth-round TKO at UFC 281 last November. That marked the third time Pereira beat Adesanya, as the Brazilian previously scored two kickboxing wins. But Adesanya got revenge in their immediate rematch, knocking Pereira out in the second round at April's UFC 287 to become a two-time 185-pound champ.

After the tilt, Pereira said he'd move to the light heavyweight division. He's scheduled to make his debut against former champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 in Salt Lake City on July 29.

A win over the third-ranked Blachowicz would be a huge step toward a title shot for Pereira. Adesanya said he could see Pereira knocking Blachowicz out, but he doubts he'll ever cross paths with the Brazilian again.

"If I'm going to bet money on it, no," Adesanya said. "Because 205, I've been there, it's hard. It's not an easy task.

"If he wins the 205 belt, though - and they might give him a fast track like they did with me - then they're going to have a magic, crazy, f-----g epic fight at 205 with me and him. And that would be us for the fifth time. Isn't that wild?"

Adesanya has already moved up as the middleweight champion to challenge for the light heavyweight belt once before, suffering his first career loss to Blachowicz by unanimous decision in 2021.