Israel Adesanya issues final verdict on potentially training with Alex Pereira someday after riveting MMA rivalry: "That’s why you shouldn’t gamble"

Israel Adesanya has adopted a reformed perspective, choosing not to hold onto grudges as he navigates the next chapter of his career. His recent training and bonding session with former rival Robert Whittaker sparked discussions about whether he might one day train with arch-nemesis Alex Pereira.

Adesanya and Pereira share a storied rivalry that spanned two sports and delivered some of the most thrilling moments in combat sports history. From their kickboxing showdowns to their high-stakes UFC battles, their encounters have defined eras in both fighters’ careers. Despite their fiery clashes, Adesanya has always acknowledged the mutual respect between them.

When asked about the possibility of training with Pereira in the future, Adesanya was open to the idea but clarified that it wouldn’t happen anytime soon. With both fighters currently focused on their respective careers, circumstances haven’t allowed for such a collaboration yet.

Weighing in on a potential collaboration in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Adesanya said:

“Yeah definitely down the road. Me and Alex, I’ve already said I got what I wanted from that fight. I think the MMA world just gets greedy and tries to ruin a good thing because they want more. Never knowing when to quit. That’s why you shouldn’t gamble. But yeah, eventually it will, but right now it’s not that time."

Adesanya added:

"I’ll always respect ‘Poatan.’ He’s a guy that we already understood this and we’ve already shared this with each other, so yeah, it will happen one day. Who knows when.”

Check out Israel Adesanya's comments below:

Adesanya is currently gearing up to take on Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia. The event is scheduled to take place on Feb. 1 at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Nassourdine Imavov expects to face the "best" version of Israel Adesanya at UFC Saudi Arabia

Nassourdine Imavov respects Israel Adesanya’s decision to take their upcoming fight, considering the former UFC middleweight champion has nothing left to prove in his storied career.

Adesanya’s willingness to face fresh challenges reflects his mentality and determination. Imavov believes this fight will showcase a focused and hungry version of Adesanya, possibly the best in years. Speaking about facing Adesanya in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Imavov said:

"It’s a very respectable decision because he didn’t have to take the fight, but it tells a lot about his mentality. The fact that he’s ready to fight against anyone, and he’s not done, he’s not finished, he’s going to be focused, he’s going to be hungry... It’s going to be the best Israel Adesanya we’ve seen in years, and that’s why we want to fight against him.”

Check out Nassourdine Imavov's comments below: