The former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, is still going strong in UFC Africa despite his loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 281.
He fell to Adesanya Pereira on November 13 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
It was his first defeat at middleweight and only the second loss of his MMA career.
Adesanya will have an immediate rematch with Pereira and a chance to rewrite the script when it comes to their rivalry in combat sports.
UFC President Dana White stated in the post-fight press conference that there were plans to hold a debut event in Africa. The promotion is eyeing Nigeria and other nations to host an event as soon as next year.
After receiving White’s announcement, Adesanya wants to be a big presence on the UFC Africa card.
In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Adesanya dismissed the possibility that UFC Africa would not be as big with him and Kamaru Usman as champions on the cards.
“The hunter is now the hunted. Buckle up,” Adesanya said. “It’s us. What we’ve done is recorded in history forever. There are moments that will never be captured in history again. We’re still writing the book; this is not over.”
Adesanya, Usman and UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, a Cameroonian, are three of the biggest African-born stars in the history of combat sports.
Ngannou is expected to return next year, while Usman is itching for an immediate rematch.
If White and the UFC follow through on a plan for an African-based event, Adesanya plans to fight on the card, although that doesn’t mean fighting with a title fight.
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