ISRAEL ADESANYA'S huge fight against Alex Pereira has been confirmed for UFC 281 in New York on November 12.
The 33-year-old has successfully defended his middleweight title five times in a row since claiming the belt back in 2019.
And while he did move up to light-heavyweight and lose to Jan Blachowicz last year, the Nigerian-born fighter remains one of the men to beat in the UFC.
Pereira, who stopped Adesanya in kickboxing five years ago, put himself in line for a title shot after scoring a vicious KO of Sean Strickland at UFC 276 last month.
On the same card, Adesanya then secured a shutout unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier.
And he was quick to state after the win that Pereira would be his next challenge – a fight which ESPN have announced will take place at Madison Square Garden.
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Speaking about the bout, the champion said: "We know who's next. That Poatan Porra.
"Trust me, this first time I told you it was an error on my part – a stabbing right hand. And that was in kickboxing.
"It's easy to knock out, what's the hillbilly's name? Because he was parrying the jab.
"But like I said at the press conference, next time I put you on skates, you're going to get frozen like Elsa."
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That came somewhat as a surprise given prior to his bout with Cannonier he was asked whether Pereira was deserving of a title shot, to which he replied: "I don't think so".
Brazilian Pereira, 35, has won his last six MMA bouts since losing his debut in 2015.
He has put together a run of three UFC victories in just seven months to earn himself a date with Adesanya.
And now he will look to inflict another defeat on Adesanya in much the same way he did as a kickboxer back in 2017.
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