27 April 2023 , 13:40
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Israel Adesanya tore his knee ligament just 13 days before his UFC revenge win over Alex Pereira.
'The Last Stylebender' came into the year searching for redemption after losing his UFC middleweight crown to bitter rival Pereira last November. The second UFC meeting saw Adesanya produce a sensational display to knock out his rival in the second round and earn his belt back in a do-or-die moment in his career.
Many were surprised Adesanya had accepted such a pivotal revenge mission on short notice, but regardless the Nigerian star was determined to win back his title. And things were made even more complicated for Adesanya who revealed he had suffered knee ligament damage and an ankle injury while training.
The video cuts to Adesanya wrestling with a sparring partner before being taken down to the ground. He then tumbles to the floor with his leg getting caught underneath his opponent before his rival rose to his feet.
He can then be seen writhing in pain while flat out on his back having felt the pain that extended from the injury. He quickly checked his knee before the camera panned to the joint as he remained in significant discomfort. However he rose to his feet and continued wrestling against the fence, before showing off his striking skills.
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However when assessing the damage, Adesanya revealed he had tore a knee ligament with the footage filmed just thirteen days before the bumper showdown. He said on his YouTube channel : "Damn f*** that was painful. I just didn't want to freak out. I remember the feeling as well, it felt hot. It felt hot, like a burning feeling.
"But this it just mental toughness, mental toughness and adrenaline. We're fighters man, don't worry, I've been through worse. I've been through some sh**. I have been here before, my UFC debut three weeks out I did my ankle. It is all part of the story this is meant to happen, you can't change your circumstances but you can change your perspective.
"The comeback of getting from then to the cage, but that was really f***ing bad. Everyone goes into the fight with something, no fighter is ever truly 100 per cent. I know me and I know who I am so I was locked in and I just knew you were going to break me no matter what."
Adesanya will now be the hunted after reclaiming his title, with the likes of Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev likely to try and earn a shot at the crown. It is unlikely he will entertain a third UFC meeting with Pereira, with 'Poatan' likely to instead move up to light-heavyweight to pursue further gold.