Ex-UFC star predicts Israel Adesanya's final three fights before retirement, outlines path to Alex Pereira trilogy: "That's how his story ends"

A former UFC combatant has predicted the three fights Israel Adesanya could compete in before hanging up his MMA gloves. Additionally, the retired MMA fighter outlined the former two-time champion's path to a potential third mixed martial arts encounter against archnemesis Alex Pereira.

Adesanya has fought Pereira four times in the professional combat sports realm overall. 'Poatan' beat him via unanimous decision and third-round KO in their kickboxing matches in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Their third encounter was an MMA bout at UFC 281 in November 2022, in which Pereira defeated Adesanya via fifth-round TKO to win the UFC middleweight title. In their fourth encounter, second in MMA, at UFC 287 in April 2023, 'The Last Stylebender' bested Pereira via second-round KO to reclaim the middleweight title.

Adesanya dropped the title in a unanimous decision defeat against Sean Strickland last September. 'Tarzan' lost the belt via split decision to Dricus du Plessis this past January. Presently, Adesanya is scheduled to fight du Plessis for the middleweight title at UFC 305 this weekend.

In an episode of The Schaub Show podcast, posted to the 'Thiccc Boy' YouTube channel, ex-UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub recently suggested that Israel Adesanya's final three opponents will be Dricus du Plessis, Sean Strickland, and Alex Pereira. He believes Adesanya could cement himself as the greatest middleweight ever, surpassing Anderson Silva.

Predicting that Adesanya could end his MMA career at light heavyweight against Pereira and could then move on to other endeavors like Hollywood, Schaub stated:

"This is how 'Izzy's' career is going to go. Time-stamp this thing 'cause we're going to post this in two years. This is how it's going to go. Mark my words. He's going to beat Dricus. He's going to outclass him on Saturday. He's going to beat the sh** out of him. He's gonna outclass this dude. This is gonna be the old, vintage 'Izzy' -- by old, I mean a year ago. He's gonna beat the sh** out of him. He's had rest. He's no longer the hunted. He's the hunter.

"Then he's gonna fight Sean Strickland, and he's gonna be a hundred percent focused. He's gonna beat Sean Strickland. Then, he's gonna take a break. And then, you're gonna get Alex versus 'Izzy' at 205 [pounds]. It's his last fight ever. And his wins over Dricus and Sean Strickland, I think there's an argument now, makes him the greatest middleweight of all time. That's how his story ends."

Check out Schaub's comments below:

Watch the podcast episode below (comments about Adesanya at 30:08-32:30):

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When Israel Adesanya addressed possible MMA trilogy against Alex Pereira

Israel Adesanya appeared on The MMA Hour in June 2023 and was asked about a possible fifth encounter and third MMA clash against Alex Pereira.

Adesanya was open to face Pereira in an MMA trilogy showdown if 'Poatan' were to win the UFC light heavyweight title. The Brazilian also recently opined that their MMA rubber match would have to be at light heavyweight, not at middleweight.

Watch Israel Adesanya's assessment below (1:49:29):

After losing the middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in April 2023, Alex Pereira moved up in weight and defeated former 205-pound kingpin Jan Blachowicz via split decision.

Pereira beat another former light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka, via second-round TKO to win the then-vacant UFC light heavyweight title last November.

'Poatan' has since defended the light heavyweight title twice, knocking out Jamahal Hill this past April and Prochazka two months later. Furthermore, he intends to capture the UFC heavyweight title someday.