UFC light heavyweight champion and former middleweight champion Alex Pereira has backed arch-rival Isreal Adesanya to earn a win over Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov when both fighters clash in the main event at UFC Fight Night on February 1.
After two consecutive middleweight title defeats against Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, Israel Adesanya needs a win to improve his ranking and keep his hopes alive for another shot at the middleweight championship.
He comes into the fight against Imanov who has won three of his last fights and is looking forward to defeating one of the main superstars of the division.
Adesanya is ranked No.2 in the middleweight division while Nassourdine is No. 5. The Nigerian-born MMA star has had a lot of run-ins with the Brazilian star. Both fighters met during their time in kickboxing with Pereira winning 2-0 but are shared 1-1 in the UFC. Despite their rivalry, Pereira spoke positively of the Nigerian.

Speaking ahead of the fight, Pereira has thrown his weight behind Adesanya saying he wishes for nothing but success for Adesanya in the fight also revealing that he owes his success and fame to the Nigerian.
“I don’t see myself cheering against Israel Adesanya,” Pereira said during an interview with combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani. “I wish him the best and I think maybe without him, I wouldn’t have been where I am today. The history we have is why I am here today and I wish him the best.”
Adesanya has been one of the top champions in the UFC over the years but has lost his crown twice in the last two years and failed to reclaim the title against South African Dricus Du Plessis.
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