Israel Adesanya has reunited with the referee who controversially stopped his title fight with Alex Pereira in 2022
At UFC 281 Adesanya and Pereira met in Dana White’s promotion for the first time, having fought each other twice in kickboxing.
The Stylebender was winning on the cards going into the fifth and final round but the Brazilian made an amazing comeback to TKO Adesanya.
Referee Marc Goddard stepped in to stop the fight as the champion was backed up on the cage wall receiving a barrage of punches.
A stoppage that has been previously argued as too early.
Goddard was also the referee in Adesanya’s most recent knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov earlier this month.
A week later Adesanya and Goddard met backstage at UFC 312 when Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland to extend his middleweight championship reign.
“Nice to see you away from the cage,” said Adesanya.
Goddard replied: “I’m f***ing sorry man.”
“Don’t be,” countered the 35-year-old.
Talking about the fight stoppages Adesanya said: “Hey, I’ll tell you one thing. The one in New York [the first Pereira fight] I was like eh, but this was good .
“I wasn’t there. I was moving but it was all instinct.”
Marc GoddardAdesanya showed his class backstage[/caption]
“I know mate,” said the referee. “I said it all the time, I don’t want to stop any fights.”
Goddard posted the interaction on X and said: “The things that people don’t see! I don’t know what to say right now ….. but I’d like to thank @stylebender wholeheartedly for sharing this moment, and I think it is Israel’s brother who was recording.
“For a certified Hall of Famer and one of the true GOATs of the sport to share this and show this side of character & humility is amazing and it means a lot to me.
“On the cusp of having his fight with @KelvinGastelum rightfully immortalised in the UFC Hall of Fame, a fight that shall ever be in my heart & mind, this is extra special. As with so many things in MMA the moments that aren’t seen, heard & felt forever remain.
“I have raised Izzy’s hand 3 times as a World Champion but one of the cruel realities of this sport is that (sadly) sometimes there is another victor. 25 years in MMA, 20 of those as referee and there are still magical moments like this to keep the fire burning.
“My primary role is to protect & I want to thank each & every person who can understand & respect that. Israel you have my respect & admiration as a man & a Champion. God bless”
Adesanya once ruled over the middleweight division and was regarded as arguably the best stand-up fighter in the UFC.
It seemed like he would have another championship reign after his crazy knockout win over Pereira in their MMA rematch but Adesanya later lost his title to Sean Strickland.
Now Stylebender is ranked fifth in his division and continues to weigh up his next move.
