Georges St-Pierre's coach addresses referee Marc Goddard's controversial stoppage during Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira clash
Georges St-Pierre's coach Firas Zahabi recently weighed in on Alex Pereira's UFC 281 title victory over Israel Adesanya. While many deemed Pereira's fifth-round TKO win to be an early stoppage, Zahabi begs to differ.
This angle of Israel Adesanya vs Alex Pereira at UFC 281 https://t.co/pIcpzCkx9u
According to Zahabi, referee Marc Goddard saved Adesanya from a potentially career-ending injury that was coming his way. Zahabi believes that Pereira would have thrown a scissor knee, which according to the Canadian coach, is the best in all of combat sports. According to 'GSP's' coach, 'Poatan' landing that shot on an already compromised Adesanya could have been career-ending. Zahabi said on the Tristar Gym's YouTube channel:
"Pereira could have ended Adesanya's career if the referee did not intervene. Guys, if the referee did not intervene, a scissor knee was coming. Guys, the greatest scissor knee I have seen in all of combat sports, ever, is Alex Pereira... It's an incredible knee from a giant, who's incredibly explosive, he throws it incredibly quick... If Marc Goddard did not step in, it could have been a serious concussion, broken jaw, broken orbital, fractured skull even... So I'm very grateful that Marc Goddard stopped it."
Watch Zahabi's comments below (5:28):
Israel Adesanya claims he was waiting for Alex Pereira to gas out when the fight was stopped
Israel Adesanya nearly finished Alex Pereira at the end of round one before going on to dominantly outgrapple him in round three. Adesanya was clearly winning on the scorecards when Pereira wobbled him with the fateful left hook in the last round.
A couple of big follow-up shots landed flush, further wobbling 'The Last Stylebender' as Pereira went in for the kill. Whilst he was on his feet, Israel Adesanya appeared to be defenseless when referee Marc Goddard intervened.
However, the former champ claims he was lucid and could see Pereira's arms and legs. Adesanya claims that he was waiting for 'Poatan' to gas out so that he could go back to grappling. 'The Last Stylebender' said on The MMA Hour:
"So I was waiting for him to take big shots, so I put my head down. I could see his arms and I could see his legs. That’s all I needed to look at. I know where his head is. So I’m just there moving, moving, moving. But to the referee, after two big shots and then I wobble, and I’m standing there looking like that, he’s going to be like, ‘Nah.’ And he’s being safe. So when he jumped in, I’m like, ‘I’m fine. Aw, f***.’ I was literally just disappointed. I was waiting for him to gas out so I can do my work. I was going to take him down and then beat him up again.”
Watch Israel Adesanya's appearance on The MMA Hour below: