Just a few hours away from the historic showdown against his nemesis Alex Pereira, former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is not giving the Brazilian any quarter. ‘Stylebender’ made it clear during the press conference that he was coming to settle scores against ‘Poatan’ rather than to win back the title. However, Adesanya does not want his opponent to have even the slightest edge in the contest.

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The 33-year-old took a few shots at the Brazilian over a few tweets. Although the Kiwi did not name-drop Pereira, it was a no-brainer to guess who his tweets were aimed at.

Alex pereira and Israel Adesanya

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City Kickboxing’s captain Dan Hooker made the news after UFC 284 when he accused 155 lbs champion Islam Makhachev of using an IV before UFC 284.

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‘The Hangman’ was adamant that the Russian lightweight cheated before facing Alexander Volkanovski. However, neither USADA nor the Australian Commission found Makhachev to be at fault. Now, Adesanya is taking a page out of his team captain’s book. The City Kickboxing stalwart hinted at IV use in a recent tweet and is raising eyebrows before the fight.

Israel Adesanya makes a controversial IV claim

In a recent tweet, Israel Adesanya had cautioned USADA about possible violations. The former champion wanted USADA to keep a close eye on fighters to avoid any cheating. He did not want anyone jumping any loopholes. Now, the former champion has given out another heated take following the weigh-ins. In his tweet, he may have hinted at a violation. He wrote, “Fine then, I’ll just use an IV to rehydrate. What’s the “legal loophole limit” again?”

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Could Adesanya be making an allegation against Pereira? ‘Poatan’ is a towering figure in the cage. At 6 ft 4 in, the 35-year-old walks around like a heavyweight. While he made weight for UFC 281, Pereira weight almost 220 lbs on fight night, which essentially made him a heavyweight.

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Back in February, Pereira was practically a heavyweight while in camp for UFC 287. He was reportedly over 230 lbs. Therefore, the weight cut has to be a grueling one for the champ.

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Read More“Israel Please Stop I Know You’re Scared”- Fans Denounce Israel Adesanya for Making “Excuses” After the USADA Callout Ahead of His UFC 287 Fight

Knowing this, Adesanya does not want him to take any shortcuts to rehydrate. Any lingering effect of the weight cut will be an edge for ‘Izzy’ and he might need any advantage he can get against the formidable champion.

What did you guys think of these tweets from Adesanya? Is he trying to get in Pereira’s head? Who do you think will come out on top at UFC 287?

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Watch This StoryThe saga of bad blood behind Alex Pereira vs Israel Adesanya

Let us know in the comments below.

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Yeswanth Praveen

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As Senior Editor of EssentiallySports’ UFC division, Yeswanth Praveen brings firsthand experience to our combat vertical. A competitive boxer since his college days, he still trains four times a week, keeping his connection to the sport sharp. An English major with a strong command of language, Yeswanth combines technical insight with compelling storytelling, decoding complex fight sequences while capturing the heart of a fighter’s journey. Since joining EssentiallySports in 2021, he has played a pivotal role in shaping our combat coverage strategies. His work has earned recognition from UFC veterans like Bruce Buffer and former heavyweight Brendan Schaub. His UFC takes on Twitter keep him actively engaged with fight fans. Whether breaking down a high-stakes title fight or profiling a rising prospect, Yeswanth delivers authenticity and depth.

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Rohini Kottu