Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya has reignited the spiritual warfare narrative against his longtime rival, Alex Pereira, claiming that the Brazilian’s ‘juju’ is a real force.
In a revealing conversation on the “JRE MMA Show” with Joe Rogan, Adesanya openly acknowledged Pereira’s spiritual strength, corroborating previous accusations from former light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka.
“You know what Jiri said about the whole juju thing? That’s real. That’s real,” Adesanya said, referencing Prochazka’s allegations of Pereira using shamanic sorcery.
The ‘Stylebender’ drew attention to the eerie patterns in his UFC and Glory kickboxing defeats at Pereira’s hands.
He noted the similarities between their last bout in Miami and their previous clash in Madison Square Garden.
“The last time I fought him in Miami, look… 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 added.
He noted how he dominated both fights until Pereira made dramatic comebacks, saying, “I was beating his ass, had him hurt at the end of the first round… and then he gets me in the last round.”
According to Adesanya, Pereira’s ability to bounce back is not just physical—it’s spiritual. “It’s his spirit, his whatever, like ancestors or his people, that are praying for him… Something about him just—he knows how to recover well,” he added.
Adesanya, a spiritual man himself, credited his parents’ prayers and fasting for his strength.
However, he hinted that Pereira’s spiritual backing might give him an edge.
Meanwhile, Pereira has shrugged off these claims, stating that belief in spirits is personal and that everyone has their own.
He expressed gratitude for the spiritual guidance that has helped him throughout his fighting career.
As this rivalry intensifies, the battle between Adesanya and Pereira has now expanded beyond the physical realm, with both fighters vying not only for victory but also for spiritual supremacy.
