“There’s levels to this,” is an oft-repeated phrase in MMA circles. It also seems to be the reason that UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya doesn’t see the man he faces in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 281 pay-per-view card, Alex Pereira, as his equal.
“No, I don’t think [he presents the toughest challenge],” Adesanya told ESPN. “He’s very one-dimensional. He’s early on in this game as well so I’m even glad to get him now. I don’t know who he has in his corner. I know he has Glover [Teixeira] and his boxing coach. I don’t know what their background is, I don’t really mind, I just worry about me.