Israel Adesanya saluted Mohamed Salah after he used his celebration in a recent Premier League win.
Salah netted as the Reds ran riot at Old Trafford in their latest Premier League fixture against Man United this weekend, also laying on two assists during a 3-0 win.
Salah decided to use Adesanya’s celebration after netting again
After slotting a cool finish into the bottom corner to cap off the victory, Salah used an archer’s gesture as he celebrated in front of the away fans.
In his post-match interview, the Egyptian talisman revealed he was inspired by the former UFC champion’s celebration.
He told media: “I think I was watching the UFC – Alex Pereira against Israel Adesanya.
“When he [Adesanya] won the second fight against Pereira, he celebrated like that because Pereira beat him in the first one.
“I like the celebration, that’s why I do it. I am a UFC fan.
“And also back home, people take it as, our Egyptian pharaohs used to do it when they drew something in a temple or the pyramids or somewhere. It’s similar.”
We should see that celebration plenty more times this season, having scored three already in three games.
He has also grabbed three assists as the 32-year-old shows no signs of slowing down.
‘The Last Stylebender’ has since posted his response on social media, replying: “Each one teach one.”
It was a very cryptic response from the former UFC champion, who has become a superstar in the sporting world since his rise in the cage.
Adesanya adopted the celebration after his famous KO revenge win over Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in April 2023.
He made the gesture as if firing arrows at his rival, who was left motionless on the octagon floor after being knocked out cold by the shots in the second round.
Adesanya famously knocked out Pereira before using the celebration
It has since been a feature of Salah’s game, with the 32-year-old having already bagged three goals in three appearances since the season began.
Meanwhile for the former UFC champion, he is on a different trajectory of form having been beaten by Dricus Du Plessis in his most recent fight at UFC 305 last month.
His options now appear limited and he could well face a rebuild as he finds himself away from the middleweight title mix.
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And new rising star Caio Borralho who is now ranked fifth, believes he should be next in line to face the talented Nigerian.
“The same way I called out Jared, with all due respect, I think there is no other guy that Adesanya should face now,” Borralho told Submission Radio.
“If you see on the Top 8 of the division, I think he fought everyone but Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen [with them] facing [each] other.
“This is the fight to make. I think it will be a fun fight. I want to fight him.
“I think it will be a good fight to my resume. And if UFC wants me to do one more fight before I go to the belt.
“Why not fight a guy that is a legend of the sport and that was so dominant in his prime?
“So, definitely a guy that I wanna face just because nothing personal, but just because it makes sense right now.”
For Salah, he hit the headlines after that win over Man United when he appeared to suggest he will be leaving the club.
“I had a good summer, I had a long time to work on myself and think positively because, as you know, this is my last year at the club.
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“I just want to enjoy it, and I don’t want to think about it. I feel free to play football, and we’ll see what happens next year.
“I was coming to the game, I was saying ‘Look, it could be the last time’. Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, ‘OK, I play my last season and see at the end of the season’.”
talkSPORT
