Twitter reacts to Alex Pereira’s stunning title-winning TKO of Israel Adesanya at UFC 281

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November 13, 2022 1:08 am ET

Alex Pereira continued to be the thorn in Israel Adesanya’s combat sports side on Saturday when he claimed the middleweight title from his rival in the UFC 281 headliner.

Pereira (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) completed his quick rise to the top of the weight class when he handed Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC), who he beat twice in kickboxing, a fifth-round TKO loss to claim gold in the main event at Madison Square Garden in Brazil.

With the victory, Pereira resets the title picture and gives Adesanya his first career defeat at 185 pounds.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Pereira’s title win over Adesanya at UFC 281.

* * * *

Bloody Elbow

Pereira opens with a jumping front kick. Adesany responds with low kicks. #UFC281

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) November 13, 2022

Kevin Iole

Nice straight right by the champ

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022

Andreas Hale

Pereira barely misses a left hook. Still exchanging leg kicks. Big body kick by Adesanya. Alex closes in and lands a body kick. Izzy circles off. Body kick from Alex and he barely misses a fight ending knee to the face. Izzy ties him up and Alex goes to work on the body.

— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) November 13, 2022

Nolan King

Israel Adesanya rocks Alex Pereira at the buzzer of Round 1. Wow! If there were five more seconds… #UFC281

— Nolan King (@mma_kings) November 13, 2022

Caposa

OH FUCK. PEREIRA ROCKED AT THE BELL

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 13, 2022

Belal Muhammad

Wow saved by the ref again

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 13, 2022

Terrance McKinney

Izzy is a sharp shooter

— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) November 13, 2022

Stephen Thompson

Pereira fighting like he’s used to having big gloves on…I think thats a big advantage for Izzy! MMA gloves are a different animal! #UFC281

— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022

Khamzat Chimaev

This is my belt 😡😡😡Let me fight @ufc

— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022

Teddy Atlas

No one wants to leave themselves open so jab is important #UFC281

— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) November 13, 2022

Kevin Iole

Pereira with a takedown at the bell. Pressure was on entire round. 19-19 on my card

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022

Khamzat Chimaev

🤼‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022

Terrance McKinney

Alex with the take down crazy did not see that one coming

— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) November 13, 2022

Teddy Atlas

Pereira’s jab is like a phone pole, fight is now even. #UFC281

— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) November 13, 2022

Matt Brown

Size and strength of Alex is a huge difference maker but can he hold up for 5?

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 13, 2022

Kevin Iole

Izz takes him down and is on his back

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022

Nolan King

Alex Pereira rushes in and Israel Adesanya trips him to the canvas. Adesanya landing punches from the top, halfway on Pereira’s back. #UFC281

— Nolan King (@mma_kings) November 13, 2022

Fight Ghost

Pereira lost on the ground. What is he doing. Love it. #UFC281

— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) November 13, 2022

Ben Askren

Damn no one taught Pereira how to peel some fingers 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

— Funky (@Benaskren) November 13, 2022

Megan Olivi

Damn no one taught Pereira how to peel some fingers 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

— Funky (@Benaskren) November 13, 2022

Michael Chiesa

That’s Hickman wrestling 101. If you know, you know. #UFC281

— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) November 13, 2022

Aaron Bronsteter

29-28 Israel entering the championship rounds

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 13, 2022

Brett Okamoto

Huge round for Izzy. Shows the evolution and let’s see that gas tank on Pereira going into the fourth after all that grappling. 10-9 Izzy. 29-28 Izzy.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 13, 2022

Aljamain Sterling

Backpacking looks easier than what it actually is! Izzy up 2 Rounds to 1 in my book! #UFC281

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) November 13, 2022

Andre Fili

Impressive growth from Izzy in his grappling. Great top pressure and g&p from the champ. Big round. #UFC281

— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) November 13, 2022

Matt Brown

So Alex lost and put on 20 plus pounds? He’ll start feeling it in these rounds

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 13, 2022

Stephen Thompson

The longer this goes the better for Izzy IMO #UFC281

— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022

Kevin Iole

Anyone else getting sense Pereira is gassing at this point?

— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 13, 2022

Andreas Hale

Izzy with leg kicks. Alex barely misses a left hook. Hard jab by Izzy. Right hand lands behind it. Right hand over the top by Izzy and a body kick. Another body kick. Izzy picking him apart.

— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) November 13, 2022

Belal Muhammad

Izzy needed this war to remind everyone how good he is

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) November 13, 2022

John Morgan

Man, the tension still high, but Adesanya looks great. Pereira going to need a finish in the fifth. #UFC281

— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) November 13, 2022

Ben Askren

39-37 Izzy. Pereira needs a finish!

— Funky (@Benaskren) November 13, 2022

Ant Evans

Izzy will literally go backwards the entire length of the Octagon – twice- because of a feint. He’s so frustrating to watch. Massive talent. Unreal reflexes. But coasts. #UFC281

— Ant Evans (@AntEvansMMA) November 13, 2022

Yves Edwards

Obviously the timeline changed since I told youse what happened.

— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) November 13, 2022

Mike Bohn

OMG! Alex Pereira TKOs Israel Adesanya in Round 5 to claim the title. Insane. #UFC281

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) November 13, 2022

Caposa

There’s no fucking way. Oh my god

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 13, 2022

Stephen Thompson

OOOHHH MYYY GOOODNESSS!!!!!! #UFC281

— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) November 13, 2022

Mike Perry

Preposterous power

— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) November 13, 2022

Georgi Karakhanyan

Only 6th mma fight crazy Alex Pereira is a G he finally let his hands go in 5th round 💪🏻

— Georgi Karakhanyan 🥩 (@georgimma) November 13, 2022

Matt Brown

Izzy fought almost perfect. Almost just isn’t enough for Alex. Daaaamn!!

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 13, 2022

Darren Till

Congrats to Alex, unlucky Izzy you’ll be back. 💪🏻

— D (@darrentill2) November 13, 2022

Henry Cejudo

Respect to both @stylebender and Alex Pereira. What makes MMA such a beautiful game is a fight ain’t over til it’s over! Can’t wait to see the quadrilogy! #UFC281

— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) November 13, 2022

Paulo Costa

It’s seriously you guys will take my videogames and secret juice from me? 😭

— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) November 13, 2022

Khamzat Chimaev

easy money 💸💸💸🤪🤪🤪

— Khamzat Chimaev (@KChimaev) November 13, 2022