Tristar Gym Coach Firas Zahabi Believes Alex Pereira's Knockout Could Be Career-Ending

Photo: Instagram/Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira's career may be in jeopardy after being knocked out by Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, according to Tristar Gym head coach Firas Zahabi.

The brutal knockout in Round 2 of their title fight rematch left Pereira unconscious and Zahabi believes the damage could be career-ending. He cited Jose Aldo's knockout loss to Conor McGregor, which left Aldo no longer a dominant fighter, as an example.

Zahabi believes that Pereira may never be the same after such a devastating loss. Prior to the knockout, Pereira had found success with his leg kicks and had even backed Adesanya against the cage.

Photo: Instagram/Alex Pereira was knocked out by Israel Adesanya in round 2 of their UFC rematch.

However, Adesanya caught him with a powerful counter right that started the fight-ending sequence. While Adesanya claimed he was baiting Pereira, Zahabi thinks he was in trouble before he landed the punch.

Zahabi believes that getting knocked out badly like Pereira did can change a fighter forever.

He also referenced Georges St-Pierre's TKO victory over B.J. Penn at UFC 94, which left Penn never quite the same fighter again.

Zahabi does not think that Adesanya was "playing possum" when he appeared to be hurt early in the fight. Instead, Zahabi believes that Adesanya was genuinely in trouble and was hanging by a thread.

In conclusion, Pereira's career may be in danger after the devastating knockout he suffered at the hands of Adesanya.

While it remains to be seen how Pereira will fare in future fights, Zahabi believes that the knockout may have a lasting impact on Pereira's fighting ability.

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Source: MMA Junkie