Nigerian-born UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has made headlines by claiming that the spiritual practices of his long-time rival, Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira, are genuine.
In a recent appearance on the “JRE MMA Show” with Joe Rogan, Adesanya discussed his belief in the influence of supernatural forces in his matches against Pereira.
During the podcast, Adesanya referred to comments made by former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, who had previously suggested that Pereira uses shamanic rituals.
“You know what Jiri said about the whole juju thing? It’s real. It’s real,” Adesanya stated, agreeing with Prochazka’s claims about Pereira’s spiritual connections.
He reflected on his multiple losses to Pereira, both in the UFC and during their kickboxing days in Glory. He noted a disturbing pattern in those fights, where Pereira managed to turn the tables in the final moments.
“The last time I fought him in Miami… he beat me in the same way he did at Madison Square Garden and before that in Brazil,” Israel Adesanya said, expressing disbelief at the similar outcomes in their fights.
Adesanya explained how he had been in control during their bouts, particularly in their most recent fight, but Pereira seemed to pull off unlikely comebacks.
“I was winning, had him hurt at the end of the first round… then, somehow, he gets me in the last round,” Adesanya remarked.
The former middleweight champion attributed Pereira’s resilience to what he called spiritual forces.
“It’s his spirit, his ancestors, or whatever it is, but he just knows how to recover. There’s something about the way he carries himself,” he added.
Though Israel Adesanya acknowledged his own spiritual practices, such as relying on his parents’ prayers and fasting, he hinted that Pereira’s spiritual backing might be stronger.
