Isreal Adesanya Is A Safer Bet Than Alex Pereira – Robert Whittaker Predicts UFC 281

UFC Middleweight Champion Isreal Adesanya has been backed by former foe Robert Whittaker to defeat Alex Pereira ahead of  UFC 281, which takes place Saturday, Nov 12th at the Madison Square Garden. The main card will be live on Pay-Per-View following prelims on ESPN+ & ESPNews.

Adesanya (23 – 1 MMA, 12 – 1 UFC) is looking to defend the UFC middleweight title for the sixth time, twice he faced Whittaker and the Australian believes from experience that Adesanya is the best bet to win the fight with Pereira despite their kick boxing history.

UFC 281 Full Fight Card ( Results .. Links To Highlights And Recap)

Pereira (6-1 MMA, 3 -0 UFC ) is looking forward to his first title fight since signing with the UFC back in 2021 and against a familiar for Adesanya, whom he defeated twice during his their kick boxing days. Whittaker still views Adesanya as a more defensively sound fighter than Pereira.

“(It’s) really hard to say because I think this is a 50-50 fight,” Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia. “But if I was betting my house, I would have to say Israel because in a fight like this, the defensive fighter is definitely the safer play. And what Adesanya does well – defensive striking, using his range, reach and height to it’s best advantage – he does it so well. Not only that, it’s super effective against everyone. So he hasn’t needed to change things up. It works on everyone.

“As I said, Adesanya is the safer bet. He’s a defensive striker and also the champ. If it’s a closer decision, it usually leans toward the champ.”

Whittaker (24 – 6 MMA, 15-4 UFC ), a former UFC middleweight champion will be looking to book a third meeting with the “Style Bender”, if he emerges victorious against top contender Paulo Costa at UFC 284, which takes place in February, in Perth , Australia. Adesanya has admitted interest in the trilogy but believes Whittaker will have to get the MMA public interested in their Trilogy.

Whittaker believes to generate interest isn’t the issue as any fight between them will interest the public and getting the public interested will be easy, if he is able to defeat Costa, who is another former title challenger.

“Well, what more does he want me to do?” Whittaker said. “Hit him with my car? Any fight between us, people are going to watch. It’s going to be so high level that everyone tunes in.

“He’s already earning millions – gets paid more than everyone else. So I don’t know. … When it comes to us fighting, I can’t do much more than I’ve already done.”

Without Me, Alex Pereira Wouldn’t Be Here – Isreal Adesanya