Following his win over Robert Whittaker on the night of Saturday July 8-Sunday July 9, Dricus Du Plessis almost secured a shot at the UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya. A potential explosive fight since the men have been inveighing against each other for several months through interviews, against a backdrop of debate on the legitimacy of claiming to be “African”.
The two men do not like each other, even hate each other. For several months, from interview to interview, they hide nothing of their enmity towards each other. This is why, paradoxically, Israel Adesanya was hoping for a victory for Dricus Du Plessis against Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 on the night of Saturday to Sunday. Because the success of his best enemy is synonymous with one thing: he will most likely be the next candidate to try to snatch the belt of middleweight champion from the waist. The opportunity to settle their accounts once and for all.
Read alsoMMA: Du Plessis defeats Whittaker in the 2nd round and heats up with Adesanya
It all started when Du Plessis, flaunting his title ambitions in the UFC last April, explained that if he wins, he will become “ the first African champion in the UFC “. Kind of spade thinly disguised to Francis Ngannou, Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya, who all train and live off the continent. Unlike him, the native of Pretoria, who still resides and trains in the land of the Springboks.
Epidermal reaction
Adesanya, born in Lagos and known for rarely keeping his tongue in his pocket, was quick to react very strongly. The Nigerian first promised his counterpart to “ drag his carcass all over South Africa » then « beat it until it turns black “. And, it didn’t stop there : “ I’m going to take her to cage school and history. It creates division. I never questioned that he was African because he was born in Africa. But who is he to tell me who I am ? Who is he to say who are Usman or Ngannou ? are you stupid or what ? You are a product of colonization and you try to tell me who I am. »
He then swore that he wished, ultimate humiliation, to make this fight on the native land of Du Plessis, in front of his public. In order to symbolically carry out his threats. If for the moment, no UFC event in South Africa, or even in Africa at all, is in the cards, the duel between the two men seems inevitable. The middleweight class has long lacked animation, with Adesanya’s continued reign only disrupted by a loss to Alex Pereira. obliterated by the Nigerian in a rematch. It’s hard to see the UFC missing such an opportunity to sell a fight for a belt.
A fight, one day or another
Moreover, the show has already started at UFC 290, to which Israel Adesanya is invited as a spectator. After the Du Plessis fight, he entered the cage, faced him and sent him some sweet words. In particular, ensuring don’t need a DNA test to find out where he came from “. And that it was curious that his potential adversary made one.
The debate on the origins passed, there remains the question of the cage. Since he’s fresh off a fight, the UFC likely won’t offer Du Plessis a date for several months. On the other hand, the poster seems inevitable. Adesanya has rolled over the entire category, some of his fellows have even suffered his law several times. While the South African is the latest rising name in middleweight with his current eight win streak, including seven before the limit. The two residents of the UFC have never crossed swords, it will not be long.