Nigerian-born UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has stirred fresh debate in the combat sports world by claiming that his fierce rival, Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira, uses real ‘juju’ or spiritual powers. Adesanya made the bold statement during a recent appearance on the “JRE MMA Show” with Joe Rogan, adding a mystical element to their already intense rivalry.
Adesanya, a former UFC middleweight champion, echoed previous claims made by ex-light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, who also suggested that Pereira employed shamanic sorcery. “You know what Jiri said about the whole juju thing? That’s real. That’s real,” Adesanya stated, seemingly convinced of Pereira’s connection to spiritual forces.
Adesanya went on to reflect on his past encounters with Pereira, both in the UFC and during their time in Glory kickboxing, highlighting a strange pattern in their fights. He noted that despite gaining the upper hand in their bouts, Pereira always managed to pull off miraculous comebacks.
“The last time I fought him in Miami… the guy beat me in the biggest arena on the planet, Madison Square Garden, the same way as the last time he beat me in Brazil,” Adesanya explained, referring to his losses to Pereira in two different settings but under eerily similar circumstances.
Adesanya recalled how he appeared to be winning their most recent fight before Pereira suddenly turned the tide. “I was beating his a**, had him hurt at the end of the first round… and then he gets me in the last round,” he said, attributing Pereira’s ability to recover and claim victory to spiritual forces at work.
“It’s his spirit, his whatever—like ancestors or his people, that are praying for him,” Adesanya added, suggesting that Pereira’s connection to these spiritual elements might be aiding him inside the octagon. “The way he carries himself. Something about him just—he knows how to recover well.”
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While Adesanya acknowledged his own spiritual practices, including his parents’ prayers and fasting on his behalf, he hinted that Pereira’s spiritual backing might be stronger. “I do my own stuff, but man, this guy—there’s something else there,” Adesanya said.
Pereira, however, has remained largely indifferent to the supernatural claims made by his rivals. The Brazilian fighter has stated in previous interviews that belief in spirits is a personal matter, and everyone has them in their lives. “It’s up to you to believe,” Pereira said, expressing confidence in how his spirits have guided him throughout his martial arts career.
The rivalry between Adesanya and Pereira is now taking on a spiritual dimension, as both fighters continue to lock horns not only physically but also in the realm of belief. With both athletes drawing on their own cultural and spiritual traditions, their future battles may go beyond the octagon as they seek to prove who has the stronger connection to unseen forces.
As fans eagerly await the next chapter in this captivating rivalry, Adesanya’s claim that “juju” plays a role in Pereira’s victories has added a new layer of intrigue to their already heated clashes. Whether or not spiritual forces are truly at play, it’s clear that this is no ordinary rivalry.