“I’ll relax for a little bit, just help the teammates who have fights coming up,” Israel Adesanya had said following his last defeat in Saudi Arabia. The French-Dagestani standout Nassourdine Imavov had handed the former middleweight champion his third consecutive UFC loss, prompting some critics to label it the “downfall” of his once legendary career. Yet Izzy appears unfazed. The former middleweight champion has dropped four of his last five Octagon outings, leading him to step out of the spotlight and return to Auckland. In New Zealand, Adesanya remains focused on a quieter routine, keeping a low profile and even attending UFC 312 in Sydney, where he reunited with rival-turned-ally Alex Pereira.

The duo has long pledged to train together as they map out the next phase of their careers. “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?” said Israel Adesanya back in January. However, before Adesanya can come through on that promise to train with Alex Pereira, a new challenger for Pereira has emerged, as of this past weekend. Izzy’s City Kickboxing teammate and rising light heavyweight contender Carlos Ulberg has just moved up in the rankings.

Carlos Ulberg’s UFC Perth rise puts Israel Adesanya–Alex Pereira training on hold

Carlos Ulberg dominated Dominick Reyes in an emphatic fashion at UFC Perth, extending his win streak to nine and propelling himself to No. 3 in the light heavyweight rankings. The victory firmly secured his place in the title conversation. Following his triumph in Perth, Ulberg quickly hinted at a new role—as a backup fighter for the UFC 320 title bout between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev in Las Vegas. “Sweet, all good.’ So we’re all good now,” Ulberg said. “We’re going to fly to Vegas. I was going to say it then and there, but I didn’t confirm. I will be the backup for that fight.” Central to Ulberg’s rise is Israel Adesanya. As Ulberg continues climbing the ranks, he now poses a potential obstacle for Pereira.

For now, Israel Adesanya’s focus remains on his own team, as teammate Carlos Ulberg edges closer to a potential title shot after the Magomed Ankalaev–Alex Pereira rematch. The scenario places Adesanya in a tricky position—he can’t neglect Ulberg to support a former rival. Ulberg waits in line for a title opportunity, but Pereira faces Ankalaev this week. A victory for Pereira would boost the likelihood of him training alongside Adesanya, whereas an Ankalaev win could push Ulberg’s title shot to next spring.

Inside Adesanya’s perspective on his rivalry with Alex Pereira

The UFC has showcased many heated rivalries, but few have burned as intensely as the one between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya. Both fighters began as kickboxers before transitioning to MMA, and it was there that their feud first ignited—in the kickboxing ring, where Pereira defeated Adesanya twice. Later, when Adesanya joined the UFC, Pereira followed after a few more kickboxing bouts, eventually entering the middleweight division.

In the Octagon, they clashed twice, splitting the series 1-1, while Pereira holds a 3-1 advantage overall in their head-to-head battles. However, Adesanya claimed the final victory in MMA. Over the years, their rivalry has faded, with Pereira now competing at light heavyweight after Magomed Ankalaev unexpectedly took his title at UFC 313.

Adesanya is currently struggling to hold his spot in the UFC’s top five middleweight rankings. Looking back on their shared history, Izzy reflected on Pereira in an interview with Demetrious Johnson on The MightyCast: “Honestly, he’s a special fighter. He’s a special human being. What he’s done in this game, in fighting and for his life, as well, I’ll always respect him. I’m grateful for those moments because for me, it taught me so much about myself and where I can go.”

The rivalry between Adesanya and Pereira has captivated fight fans for years. Was it always fueled by genuine animosity, or was it a calculated strategy to sell fights based on their past clashes? Share your thoughts below.