Tag: Dricus du Plesiss

Robert Whittaker refuses to look past Dricus Du Plessis in UFC 290 title eliminator: ‘He’s too dangerous’

WhittakerRobert Whittaker refuses to look past his next opponent. On July 8, ‘The Reaper’ will return to the Octagon for a middleweight title eliminator against rising contender Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290. Robert Whittaker is set to walk into the matchup as an overwhelming favorite, with sportsbooks having him listed as a 4-to-1 favorite. […]

Whittaker

Robert Whittaker refuses to look past his next opponent.

On July 8, ‘The Reaper’ will return to the Octagon for a middleweight title eliminator against rising contender Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290. Robert Whittaker is set to walk into the matchup as an overwhelming favorite, with sportsbooks having him listed as a 4-to-1 favorite. Much of that is due to the fact that Du Plessis has never fought someone as skilled as Whittaker. That matched with a penchant for gassing out early, it’s understandable why fans and fighters are already discrediting ‘Stillknocks’ as a viable contender.

But Robert Whittaker refuses to see things that way. In fact, he believes Dricus Du Plessis has found success in recent years due to being continually disrespected and overlooked, a mistake ‘The Reaper’ has no intentions of duplicating.

“I guess if fights were won on paper, the entire sport would be very different,” Whittaker said recently on the promotion’s UFC Vegas 75 post-fight show when asked about Du Plessis. “And I understand that’s not how fights are won. I understand the threat that Dricus can bring to the table and bring to me moving forward, to trying to achieve what I want.

“I do believe that is one of the major reasons why Dricus has had the success he’s had because he’s going up against these dudes, and these guys are not giving him his credit. They’re not giving the respect his skill set deserves. I fully understand that I have bled and sweat and trained my butt off to take the war to him come UFC 290” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Robert Whittaker Ready to Show Off the Next Evolution of His Game Against Dricus Du Plessis

Robert Whittaker finds himself in a difficult position heading into International Fight Week. ‘The Reaper’ has dispatched practically every fighter in the middleweight division, with one glaring exception; Israel Adesanya. Despite back-to-back losses against ‘The Last Stylebender,’ Whittaker is confident that his evolution in recent years will not only move him past Dricus Du Plessis but back to the top of the 185-pound division.

“I think that’s why you see improvement in my game throughout the years and throughout my fights. Every fight, I believe, you’re seeing a new window into my game, into what I’m trying to bring,” Whittaker said.

“You’re seeing new skill sets and skills sets that I previously had better than the last time, and that’s because I’m always trying new things, I’m always trying to better the next skill set. I’m doing lots of grappling, I’m doing lots of wrestling, I’m trying to switch up my boxing, and that’s what I believe takes me to new levels, and Dricus is going to see a new level once again.”

Dricus Du Plessis has earned five-straight wins inside the Octagon, with four of those victories coming by way of a finish. Despite the impressive run that has landed him in the No. 5 spot on the middleweight rankings, ‘Stillknocks’ has failed to garner the respect of a top contender.

“I definitely am not looking past Dricus. He’s too dangerous, and the fight has too much gravity in July, and all my focus and attention, and dedication is going into July. But I’ll tell you one thing: If I’m healthy and able, I will take a fight,” Whittaker said.

“At any date, any time. I’ll take a fight two days after July if I’m healthy and able. So yeah, let’s get through July, and yeah, I’m in the fight game, you know? I’m in the business.”

Alex Pereira claims Israel Adesanya wants ‘Easy fight’ rather than trilogy clash in UFC return later this year

Alex Pereira claims Israel Adesanya wants easy fight over trilogy ahead of UFC returnAlex Pereira accused Israel Adesanya of targeting streaking contender Dricus Du Plessis to get an “easy fight. Alex Pereira is coming off his first loss inside the Octagon, surrendering the UFC middleweight championship to ‘The Last Stylebender’ at UFC 287, five months removed from his shocking fifth-round knockout against Adesanya at UFC 281 to capture […]

Alex Pereira claims Israel Adesanya wants easy fight over trilogy ahead of UFC return

Alex Pereira accused Israel Adesanya of targeting streaking contender Dricus Du Plessis to get an “easy fight.

Alex Pereira is coming off his first loss inside the Octagon, surrendering the UFC middleweight championship to ‘The Last Stylebender’ at UFC 287, five months removed from his shocking fifth-round knockout against Adesanya at UFC 281 to capture the title. With Alex Pereira slated for a move to light heavyweight, Adesanya will look ahead to his next challenger. That will be determined at UFC 290 in July when former 185-pound champion Robert Whittaker takes on rising contender Dricus Du Plessis in a middleweight title eliminator.

‘Stylebender’ has already taken aim at du Plessis after the South African standout called into question Adesanya’s African heritage. Openly hoping for ‘Stillknocks’ to pass his test against perennial contender Robert Whittaker, Adesanya is determined to teach du Plessis a lesson inside the Octagon. However, Alex Pereira believes Adesanya is simply targeting the easiest possible fight for himself.

“I think Whittaker will win this fight,” Pereira predicted in a recent video shared on his YouTube channel. “He is the big favorite he has already made several fights with great fighters and against Adesanya, he also made two great fights. But for Du Plessis, I wouldn’t say for sure but his chance is minimal against Whittaker. We saw the last fight of Du Plessis right?  He is a guy who at the end of the first round was very tired so how a guy like that will fight five rounds against [Whittaker]- if he passes – it would be Adesanya. I think impossible.”

“Whittaker, he is different and has already proven this so I think there is a big difference,” he continued. “If Du Plessis wins. I think it will be a massacre. Adesanya knows this. He wants to make history. He wants to have an easy fight. For me, it’s Du Plessis, he is way easier than Whittaker. He wants to make history and collect wins and he knows it’s a good fight for him.

“Now Whittaker, he already knows it is difficult. In my opinion, both were hard fights even having that knockout in the first fight. In the second fight was a harder fight. I am sure that Whittaker will be better in a third fight, if not win. Of course, Adesanya is difficult, I think Adesanya is the favorite” (h/t MiddleEasy).

Alex Pereira Believes His UFC 281 Win Over Israel Adesanya Has Inspired Robert Whittaker

Alex Pereira suggested that his own win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 could have helped lay the blueprint for Robert Whittaker to score his own victory against the reigning middleweight king. Thus far, ‘The Reaper’ has fallen short on two separate occasions, but the Aussie has been chomping at the bit for a third crack at the New Zealander.

“But a third fight, I think Whittaker will be very dangerous even more knowing that Adesanya, he loses right – he is not an invincible guy, he loses – he already lost a few times, lost in kickboxing and I showed that in MMA – so for sure this will give Whittaker more confidence,” Pereira pointed out.

“I think he just has to do some adjustments,” he said of Whittaker. “Just has to do some things there details, some techniques, a good kick, defense, if he improves this I am sure he will give a lot of work for Adesanya and can be the next champion.”

Alex Pereira Wants a Third Fight with ‘Stylebender’ Inside the Octagon

Alex Pereira has recently called for a third fight with Adesanya inside the Octagon. After suffering a second-round knockout against ‘Stylebender’ last month, many assumed the door would be closed on their long-standing rivalry after all signs pointed toward ‘Poatan’ moving to 205. Alex Pereira revealed that a move to light heavyweight is still the focus, but he has every intention of completing his UFC trilogy with Adesanya. Whether or not Adesanya will accepts the challenge is a different story.

“I don’t know if Adesanya has this interest but if I want, the UFC wants [a trilogy fight], it’s already two points there so if the UFC gets there this year and says, you [Adesanya] are promoting a lot, speaking a lot, then we’ll have to fight. I don’t know if he will accept sincerely, I don’t know, I believe he won’t because soon after the fight you saw that he didn’t do any promotion to give me an immediate rematch.

“So the first opportunity that he had, he said no, forget Alex, he will have to do something for us to have a next fight, right? So I think he just wants to provoke me and is not promoting [a rematch]. I think he is doing it without intention right?, he is talking posting things every second right. As I said taking advantage of this moment of him, but I think if he would know that with all this he is facilitating us to have a third fight, I think he would not do all this and as I said right?,” Pereira explained.

“My focus now is the light heavyweight right. That is my intention,” he added.

Robert Whittaker plans to dismantle Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290: ‘He makes it a really yucky fight’

Robert Whittaker plans to dismantle Dricus du Plessis he makes it a yucky fight UFC 290The usually humble Robert Whittaker’s confidence seems at an all-time high, as he talks about his looming UFC 290 title eliminator against Dricus Du Plessis. Pairing their skill sets against one another, the Aussie thinks that this match-up is a highly favorable one. While Robert Whittaker may be brimming with confidence, he knows all too well that […]

Robert Whittaker plans to dismantle Dricus du Plessis he makes it a yucky fight UFC 290

The usually humble Robert Whittaker’s confidence seems at an all-time high, as he talks about his looming UFC 290 title eliminator against Dricus Du Plessis.

Pairing their skill sets against one another, the Aussie thinks that this match-up is a highly favorable one. While Robert Whittaker may be brimming with confidence, he knows all too well that his opponent should not be underestimated. He in fact believes that the downfall of his previous opponents may have been just that.

Robert Whittaker talks about Du Plessis

“I never underestimate my opponents, and I know not to underestimate Dricus,” Stated the former middleweight champion.

 “He’s the sort of guy that if you underestimate him, which a lot of people have, he dismantles you. He beats you up and takes you into the phone booth. He makes it a really yucky fight, and I’m not going to do that.”

Last competing against Marvin Vettori in a winning effort, Whittaker’s only losses at 185lbs are against current kingpin Israel Adesanya, a loss he is keen to put right. For Du Plessis, his UFC tenure is unblemished. 5-0, he most recently stopped Derek Brunson, cementing his status as an up-and-coming contender in the middleweight division. Even in such a fine vein of form, Whittaker believes the night is destined to be his.

“You don’t get to where he is in the division without being damn good at what you do. I understand he’s tough. I understand he’s got cardio and he’s got the complete skill set. But I do believe that I am just better. I believe I have everything he does and more, and more to give, and I’m better at it. That’s just the truth. That’s just facts.”

The pair are set to do battle over three rounds in Las Vegas, during international fight week, in what is looking set to be the card of the summer. Robert Whittaker is looking to steal the show and stake his claim for a third, and probably final shot at Adesanya.

“But let me say: I’m very good at fighting tough guys, and I’m good at dismantling them. I look forward to finally getting back in there, International Fight Week, and being across from him and doing my job.”

Who do you have in this one, Whittaker or Du Plessis?

Originally transcribed by MMAJunkie

Israel Adesanya criticized for levelling racial slurs at UFC enemy Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Who the f*ck is this cracker?’

Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya has come under fire after hurling racial slurs toward rising middleweight contender Dricus Du Plessis. ‘The Last Stylebender’ is just weeks removed from his highlight-reel-worthy knockout of longtime Brazilian rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287. With the 185-pound crown now firmly back within his grasp, the City Kickboxing product is on the hunt […]

Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya has come under fire after hurling racial slurs toward rising middleweight contender Dricus Du Plessis.

‘The Last Stylebender’ is just weeks removed from his highlight-reel-worthy knockout of longtime Brazilian rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287. With the 185-pound crown now firmly back within his grasp, the City Kickboxing product is on the hunt for his next challenger. Enter Dricus Du Plessis, a South African-born fighter riding an impressive seven-fight win streak in the division, defeating notables including Brad Tavares, Darren Till, and Derek Brunson.

While ‘Stillknocks’ has gained a fair amount of fandom for his high-octane style of fighting inside the Octagon, Du Plessis has found himself the subject of many headlines after taking a dig at Israel Adesanya and his African heritage.

“Did those belts ever go to Africa?” Du Plessis questioned reporters at UFC 285 media event. “As far as I know, they came to America and New Zealand. I’m going to take a belt to Africa. I’m the African fighter in the UFC. Myself and Cameron [Saaiman, Du Plessis’ teammate], we breathe African air. We wake up in Africa every day. We train in Africa, we’re African born, we’re African raised. We still reside in Africa, we train out of Africa. That’s an African champion, and that’s who I’ll be.”

Israel Adesanya did not take kindly to Du Plessis’ comments and responded in a way that has many fans turning against the once-celebrated middleweight world champion. Taking to his YouTube channel FREESTYLEBENDER, Adesanya delivered a scathing tirade directed at ‘Stillknocks’ that included multiple uses of a particular racial slur.

“I’m going to f*cking take him to school, in the Octagon, and on history,’ said Adesanya. “What he’s doing is creating divide. You can’t know your history, I have never questioned him as an African, because yeah, you were born in Africa. South Africa. Of course you’re an African. I have never questioned that. But who the f*ck is this cracker to tell me who the f*ck I am? Who the f*ck Kamaru is, who the f*ck Ngannou is? I’m like, are you dumb? As a product of colonization, you’re trying to tell me who the f*ck I am.

“You can take the boy out of Africa, but you can never take the Africa out of the boy. I never, ever did that to him. I never discredited him as an African. Okay, there you are. Cool. You want to make a fight? Cool.  But the fact that as a f*cking cracker, to tell me who the f*ck I am, that p*ssed me off, and that’s why he’s my next fight. I don’t want to fight anyone else. This one p*sses me off” (h/t Mail Online)

Israel Adesanya Has Already Asked to Fight Dricus Du Plessis in South Africa

Israel Adesanya also revealed that he has already asked the UFC for a fight with Dricus Du Plessis in Africa. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but before ‘Stillknocks’ can get his shot at the middleweight champ, he will need to get past former titleholder and perennial contender Robert Whittaker. The two are set to square off in a middleweight title eliminator at UFC 290 on July 8.

“I tried to do it in South Africa, but apparently it might not work,’ Adesanya said. “But again, I told Dana, you guys beat COVID before any other big sporting league got on the field or on the court, you guys did that. You can do anything. I still believe they can. I want to do it in South Africa or somewhere in Africa. 

“Like I said, he’s created division. I don’t like that. He didn’t have to do that. He didn’t have to do that. You don’t understand, I’m here now. I’m going to f*ck this guy up. I’m going to torture this guy. You don’t have to create division. This is not the time for that sh*t. You could have definitely got the fight without talking all that sh*t. Well, be careful what you wish for. You got what you want. He’s next. I’m going to f*cking beat him until he’s black.”

Israel Adesanya was born in Lagos, Nigeria before relocating with his parents to Rotorua, New Zealand when he was 10 years old. ‘Stylebender’ continues to hang his hat in the Land of the Long White Cloud to this day.