![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/israel-adesanya-insists-he-would-still-be-ufc-champion-with-different-referee/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/0_GettyImages-1441091799.jpg&description=Adesanya was stopped in the final round of his UFC title fight against Alex Pereira and he thinks referee Steve Mazzagatti would have kept the fight goingAlex Pereira makes weight for Israel Adesanya world title fight at UFC 281Israel Adesanya thinks he would have reached the final bell of his UFC title fight with Alex Pereira if Steve Mazzagatti was the referee for the fight. Middleweight champion Adesanya, 33, was looking to make the sixth defence of his title in the main event of UFC 281 in New York this past weekend, but he came up short after being knocked out in the fifth round by former kickboxing rival Pereira. The stoppage was debated by fans as some feel that Adesanya should have been given more time from referee Marc Goddard to recover from the fight-ending sequence. 'The Last Stylebender' gave a tongue-in-cheek comment after the fight in which he suggested controversial referee Mazzagatti would have let the fight go on. "My ego would say, 'At least let me go out on my shield.' I don't think I would have gone out, because I was still there. I've seen worse stoppages, bring back Steve Mazzagatti, I would have been fine. He might have won that round but I would still be the champion," he said. Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson dead: Ex-UFC star dies aged 38 after illness What were your thoughts on Israel Adesanya's fight against Alex Pereira? Let us know in the comments section below Mazzagatti, a former firefighter, was one of the most controversial referees in MMA and was heavily criticised for often stopping fights too late. UFC boss Dana White once labelled Mazzagatti a "f****ng toolbox" for not picking up on Jon Fitch being choked unconscious in his 2013 fight against Josh Burkman. Adesanya doubled down on his comments about the referee by later tweeting "Petition to bring back Steve Mazzagatti". The loss marks Adesanya's third to Pereira in his combat sports career, losing a decision in their first kickboxing fight and being knocked out in their rematch. The N){kind=link}
Adesanya was stopped in the final round of his UFC title fight against Alex Pereira and he thinks referee Steve Mazzagatti would have kept the fight going
Israel Adesanya thinks he would have reached the final bell of his UFC title fight with Alex Pereira if Steve Mazzagatti was the referee for the fight.
Middleweight champion Adesanya, 33, was looking to make the sixth defence of his title in the main event of UFC 281 in New York this past weekend, but he came up short after being knocked out in the fifth round by former kickboxing rival Pereira. The stoppage was debated by fans as some feel that Adesanya should have been given more time from referee Marc Goddard to recover from the fight-ending sequence.
‘The Last Stylebender’ gave a tongue-in-cheek comment after the fight in which he suggested controversial referee Mazzagatti would have let the fight go on. “My ego would say, ‘At least let me go out on my shield.’ I don’t think I would have gone out, because I was still there. I’ve seen worse stoppages, bring back Steve Mazzagatti, I would have been fine. He might have won that round but I would still be the champion,” he said.
What were your thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s fight against Alex Pereira? Let us know in the comments section below