Why Daniel Cormier didn’t love Alex Pereira calling out Israel Adesanya after UFC 295 win

Daniel Cormier believes Alex Pereira made a strategic error in calling out Israel Adesanya.

Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) issued a challenge to Adesanya after his victory over Jiri Prochazka, claiming the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 295. This win made him a two-weight UFC champion, something Adesanya was unable to achieve.

While Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) dismissed Pereira’s challenge, citing that he is living “rent free” in Pereira’s head. He recently lost his championship title after a significant defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Cormier views Pereira’s callout as providing Adesanya with the upper hand once again.

In a statement on his YouTube channel, Cormier expressed, “My thought on the whole rivalry over accomplishment, for me, is I think he’s a little wrong to be looking back at Izzy. Because you know what he does? He gives Izzy power over him. Izzy’s just sitting on the couch watching. You saw Izzy’s reaction. He’s laughing at him.”

Ben Askren, Cormier’s co-host for their show “Funky & The Champ,” argued that despite Pereira beating Adesanya three times in kickboxing and MMA, he wants the last laugh. However, Cormier believes that Pereira giving Adesanya importance is not a wise move.

“I get it. You want to beat him and put him in his place,” Cormier said. “But every time, especially when you’re on the mountaintop, you speak to him. You give him power. He’s giving Adesanya power. … He (Adesanya) goes, ‘I own a lot of property, Most of my real estate is in Alex Pereira’s head.’ Because when Alex Pereira is the king of the world, he’s calling for him. So by putting this rivalry and making it so important to him, he is giving the guy the power, and I don’t think he understands that.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie