Israel Adesanya admits crying after win over Jared Cannonier
Adesanya clashed with Cannonier in July
KARACHI: Israel Adesanya has acknowledged that he cried after defeating Jared Cannonier by unanimous decision in July.
This weekend at UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden, the UFC middleweight champion will make a comeback to defend his title against former two-time kickboxing foe Alex Pereira. Adesanya has received criticism for his recent 185-pound performances after winning all three of his fights by unanimous decisions without recording a stoppage.
His performance against unsuccessful challenger Cannonier drew harsh criticism, and UFC supporters threatened to stop purchasing pay-per-views for his fights in response.
Adesanya has acknowledged that he was disappointed with his last outing, especially after placing undue pressure on himself to put on a strong show at International Fight Week.
"I don't hold on to things. I let myself feel them. People try to deny things and block it, if you fight your emotions they’ll get you later on. So I feel it. I cried backstage. Me and [coach] Eugene [Bareman] hugged it out and he told me, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.’ "I was like, ‘Just give me a bourbon, I’ll be fine," Adesanya told the MMA Hour.
"So I expressed it, feel it, and I let it go. It’s a good way to release emotions, it relaxes you. It’s just a normal human function, I don’t know why we shame it. [I was] upset at me for what I wanted to do. People mistake it. This is not about other people. This is about me. I did the Undertaker walkout and I had this Miyamoto Musashi mentality like I’m going to make him wait because I don’t think it’s going to last long.
"Then I get there and I’m a little bit frustrated during the fight trying to figure out how to take this guy. For me, it was just the pressure I put on myself because it was International Fight Week, I’m like, ‘Damn, I want to take this to the next level after I smoke this guy.’ And I felt like I didn’t smoke this guy, but I beat him quite easily. Easily. So for me, it’s the expectations I put on myself, that’s what."
Given that Pereira has defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing, including once by knockout, he will likely face a far more difficult challenge this weekend. The Nigerian also thinks it will be energising to counter the aggression of his opponent in the octagon.
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