Xuenou > Podcasts > UFC 281 main event star Alex Pereira puts on 25lbs in dramatic 24-hour transformation
UFC 281 main event star Alex Pereira puts on 25lbs in dramatic 24-hour transformation
UFC 281 main event star Alex Pereira puts on 25lbs in dramatic 24-hour transformation,Periera is set to face long-term rival Israel Adesanya in the main event with the two meeting for the first time since the former knocked out the latter back in 2017 - the only time he's been KO'd in his career

UFC 281 main event star Alex Pereira puts on 25lbs in dramatic 24-hour transformation

UFC 281 main event star Alex Pereira has dramatically weighed in over 25lbs heavier than he had done just 24 hours ago, bulking up from 184lbs to around 210lbs ahead of tonight's middleweight championship bout.

Pereira will face Adesanya for the first time in the UFC, after the former defeated the latter twice in kickboxing bouts in 2016 and 2017 – the second coming by way of a dramatic knockout.

Adesanya is undefeated in the UFC at middleweight, with the only loss of his career coming after he moved up in weight when he faced Jan Blachowicz last year.

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Pereira who is naturally bigger than Adesanya, had made weight on Friday, weighing in at 184lbs with some wondering if he'd be able to make the weight after looking much bigger than fans had been used to seeing him before waiting until five minutes before the end of the two-hour window to step on the scales.

And just 24 hours later, Pereira has posted an image of himself weighing in just hours before the UFC main event, weighing in 25lbs heavier.

Pereira is the underdog ahead of the fight, but many have commented on Adesanya looking more uncomfortable than fans are used to seeing him during pre-fight festivities.

Speaking ahead of the fight Pereira said: "We both have evolved a lot. But I think I have the edge on the kickboxing, because I evolved a lot after the fight.

Alex Pereira has dramatically put on over 25 lbs in 24 hours

"People want to say, ‘Oh, but now this is a MMA fight.’ But many people think it’s going to be a kickboxing fight inside the Octagon. So with that said, who do you think is going to have the edge? Me, that kept doing kickboxing for all those years, or him that stopped training kickboxing?".

And whilst fans may be worried about the New Zealander, Adesanya had some strong words ahead of the fight.

He said: "I don’t really need to say anything. The fight’s sold. I don’t need to try and get under his skin. For what?

"Certain people, like when I fought [Derek] Brunson, that was easy because I knew how to poke the bear in that one. [Pereira] doesn’t even speak English, I don’t need to say anything to him. It would be foolish of me to try and intimidate him, that’s the wrong tactics. You have to change your tactics according to the situation. All I’m doing right now is just staying patient and doing my work."