UFC middleweight Joaquin Buckley explains why Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira is going to be like Adesanya vs Romero

While sitting down with Joe Rogan, UFC middleweight Joaquin Buckley has insisted that the upcoming Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira fight may not play out how most expect it to.

Arguably best known for his iconic spinning back kick knockout in 2020, 'New Mansa' made a name for himself in the 185lb division with some spectacular performances. The 28-year-old is loved for his raw power and kill-or-be-killed attitude, arrived in the UFC after having spells with both Bellator and LFA

During a sit-down with Joe Rogan for the JRE podcast, Joaquin Buckley compared the highly-anticipated clash between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira to the middleweight champion's title defense against Yoel Romero two years ago.

"My thoughts on it is way different from everybody else's... I think it's gonna be like the same fight that we seen Yoel and Izzy with, where you got two people just staring each other down, not trying to make that move because they both have the capabilities of knocking each other out... If he [Adesanya] doesn't apply his emotions into it like he hasn't done with every other fight, I feel like he's gonna do enough to win, but I feel like Alex Pereira is not going to be able to apply that pressure on Izzy, just because he won't have the energy."

Despite being a dominant force in the division, Adesanya is putting his title on the line against not only a dangerous, heavy-hitting brawler but a man who holds two wins over the champion, with the most recent one coming via knockout.

Check out what Joaquin Buckley and Joe Rogan had to say about the UFC 281 main event in the video below.

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What happened during the Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero fight?

Up until very recently, Israel Adesanya's first defense of the title against Yoel Romero was considered the worst championship match in UFC history by a large number of fans.

Though Rose Namajunas vs. Carla Esparza may have now taken on the unfortunate label, it's hard to deny just how much of a disappointment 'The Last Stylebender' versus the wild Cuban was.

Adesanya walked away with the decision after their five-round snoozefest, with the bizarre fight mostly taking place at a distance with neither fighter attempting to engage. Ultimately, it was the champion's numerous leg kicks that earned him the victory in one of the worst high-profile matchups in the history of the sport.