UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is backing his longtime rival Israel Adesanya to triumph in his UFC 305 title showdown with Dricus du Plessis in Australia next month. 

The two standout kickboxers, who have shared the ring or cage on four occasions across two different combat sports, have cooled their rivalry in recent months, particularly following Pereira’s exit from the middleweight division successfully chase gold at 205-pounds.

And as such, Pereira — who defended his crown last month in what was his second win over former light heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka — is backing Adesanya to defeat South Africa’s Du Plessis in the cage in Perth, Australia on August 17.

“[People] asked me about Adesanya and du Plessis, I said I don’t see Adesanya losing,” Pereira said in a video posted to his YouTube channel, as noted by MMA Fighting.  “Just because he said that about me doesn’t mean I’ll say it back. It’s what I think. I don’t think he loses this fight. I hope he wins because he has a beautiful story. I think he has to continue his story.”

Should Adesanya win next month, it will establish him as a three-time UFC middleweight champion — a fine achievement for a fighter who hinted following his title defeat last year to Sean Strickland that he was in need of an extended break from competition.

“He isn’t that young anymore,” Pereira added of his former opponent. “He talked a little about wanting to stop [fighting], I think he has that in mind. I think he should continue his plans. I don’t think he finished his plans, I don’t know. If he had finished his plans he would of stopped already, so if he’s still there, he still has a dream, something to do in the sport still.

“I’m here, supporting him. I already fought him, I’m not going to say he should lose. I’m not mad at him, no grudges.”