Tag: dricus du plessis

Israel Adesanya Slams Dricus du Plessis for ‘Privileged Life’ in South Africa

Israel Adesanya Slams Dricus du PlessisIsrael Adesanya has taken aim at Dricus Du Plessis for his privileged life in South Africa. Adesanya is looking…

Israel Adesanya Slams Dricus du Plessis

Israel Adesanya has taken aim at Dricus Du Plessis for his privileged life in South Africa.

Adesanya is looking to reclaim his middleweight title in the main event of UFC 305 in Perth, Australia on Saturday. It’s an intriguing matchup, and in the lead-up to the bout, the two have traded shots with one another.

Now, ahead of UFC 305, Israel Adesanya has taken aim at Du Plessis for living a privileged life in South Africa.

“I want him to take accountability for his remarks,” Israel Adesanya told TMZ Sports (via MMAFighting). “Abdul Razak [Alhassan] said it before his fight about three weeks ago, saying, ‘I respect Dricus, but he’s a b*tch for what he said.’ He’s a b*tch. Because Dricus is saying, ‘I trained in Africa. I do this in Africa,’ and people like Razak and myself who are forced to flee our own country because of a better opportunity, he’ll never understand that because he lives behind the f*cking gates of his privileged life in South Africa, and he’s able to do that there.

“So, someone like Francis [Ngannou], who had to cross the desert to go overseas to go train. If you know Francis’ story, you can’t call him not a real African champion because he didn’t train in Africa. Like, bro. Are you f*cking kidding?” he concluded. “The guy got sent back out to the desert six, seven times to go die, and he survived.”

The press conference for UFC 305 will be a must-watch as the two do not like one another.

Dricus du Plessis claims Israel Adesanya should have retired last year I saw it in his eyes

Israel Adesanya plans to take Dricus Du Plessis’ head off

Israel Adesanya enters UFC 305 as the slight betting favorite as he looks to reclaim his middleweight title.

Heading into the bout, Adesanya says he won’t just win, but he plans to take Du Plessis’ head off to get the win.

“You said I’m looking to be the first three-time UFC middleweight champion. I’m not looking to do that. I’m looking to take his head off,” Adesanya said on ‘The Rock‘ (via SI). “That’s all I’m looking to do. I’m going after him, and this is not wolf tickets. I feel different. So, I just wanna go in there, and I have nothing to lose. That keeps me free. I’ve already been the champion once.”

Adesanya hasn’t fought since September of last year when he suffered a decision loss to Sean Strickland to lose his middleweight title.

Israel Adesanya Reiterates Fury With ‘Privileged’ Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments: ‘Not Like Francis, Who Had To Cross The Desert…’ 

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya remains motivated to make Dricus Du Plessis pay for some of his remarks at UFC 305. Having not competed since losing the title in shocking fashion against Sean Strickland last September, Adesanya will make his return to action opposite the man against whom “Tarzan” fell off the throne […]

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Reiterates Fury With ‘Privileged’ Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments: ‘Not Like Francis, Who Had To Cross The Desert…’  at MMA News.

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya remains motivated to make Dricus Du Plessis pay for some of his remarks at UFC 305.

Having not competed since losing the title in shocking fashion against Sean Strickland last September, Adesanya will make his return to action opposite the man against whom “Tarzan” fell off the throne earlier this year.

After an injury to Du Plessis scuppered plans for the pair to collide in Australia 11 months ago, “Stillknocks” and “The Last Stylebender” are now just days away from a battle Down Under, one that the South African will enter as the divisional kingpin.

Du Plessis and Adesanya have long gone back and forth over the former’s remarks about African heritage. In addition to branding himself the “real African” in the UFC in one of his first post-fight interviews, the South African has pointed to his continued stay in the continent as a relevant point compared to the likes of Adesanya and Kamaru Usman.

Adesanya Vows To Show Du Plessis The Error Of His ‘Colonialist’ Mindset

During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Adesanya looked ahead to his mixed martial arts comeback and further commented on the sensitive topic that built his feud with Du Plessis early last year.

The Nigerian-New Zealander reiterated his frustration with his upcoming opponent’s mindset, pointing to his journey and stories such as that of Francis Ngannou as examples Du Plessis ignored when branding himself the “real African” in the UFC.

“It’s not personal, personal. I just want him to take accountability for his remarks,” Adesanya said. “Dricus is saying, ‘I train in Africa, I do this in Africa,’ and then people like (Abdul) Razak (Alhassan) and myself, who were forced to flee our own country because of better opportunities, he’ll never understand that because he lives behind the f*cking gates of his privileged life in South Africa.

“Not like someone like Francis, who had to cross the desert to go overseas to go train. If you know Francis’ story, you can’t call him not a real African champion because he didn’t train in Africa,” Adesanya continued. “It’s like, bro, are you f*cking kidding? The guy got sent back out to the desert six, seven times to go die and he survived. … We paved the way for him and he comes out there and tries to take it all for himself. I wonder where he got that from? … ‘I see this and want it all for myself.’ … What kind of mindset is that? … That’s a colonialist mindset.”

Adesanya will look to settle his grudge with Du Plessis within the steel surroundings of the Octagon this weekend, when he makes the walk to it for the first time in close to a year.

Should he have his hand raised in Perth, more than just emerging victorious from what appears to be a heated grudge match with the South African, “The Last Stylebender” will achieve a historic three-time crowning.

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Reiterates Fury With ‘Privileged’ Dricus Du Plessis’ Comments: ‘Not Like Francis, Who Had To Cross The Desert…’  at MMA News.

VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

Fight week for the UFC 305 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. Saturday’s lineup is topped by a championship rematch, with middleweight kingpin Du Plessis (21-2) looking to add a first […]

Continue Reading VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya at MMA News.

Fight week for the UFC 305 pay-per-view this Saturday night has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya.

Saturday’s lineup is topped by a championship rematch, with middleweight kingpin Du Plessis (21-2) looking to add a first successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. He earned that shot with a monumental triumph over the highly regarded Robert Whittaker during last year’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

If “Stillknocks” is to continue his rule atop the 185-pound mountain, he must record a victory over the returning Adesanya (24-3). “The Last Stylebender” will be making his comeback 11 months on from losing the middleweight gold in shocking fashion to Strickland in Sydney.

The Nigerian-New Zealander will be back competing on Australian soil once again, with Perth’s RAC Arena potentially hosting his historic crowning as three-time champ should he hand his South African rival the first loss of his career on MMA’s biggest stage.

Ahead of that contest Down Under, fans can catch a preview in the full episode of UFC 305 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

UFC 305 Countdown: Full Episode

And below, check out the full card for this weekend’s numbered event.

Main Card:

  • Middleweight Championship Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Israel Adesanya
  • Flyweight Co-Main Event: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
  • Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
  • Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
  • Welterweight: Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates

Preliminary Card:

  • Heavyweight: Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker
  • Featherweight: Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
  • Women’s Flyweight: Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos
  • Featherweight: Jack Jenkins vs. Herbert Burns

Early Preliminary Card:

  • Lightweight: Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
  • Welterweight: Song Kenan vs. Rick Glenn
  • Flyweight: Stewart Nicoll vs. Jesus Aguilar

Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com this week for all the updates and news on UFC 305!

Continue Reading VIDEO: UFC 305 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya at MMA News.

Dricus Du Plessis: Israel Adesanya’s Fire Is Nothing Compared to Mine

Dricus Du Plessis Israel AdesanyaAt UFC 305, Dricus Du Plessis will attempt to defend his UFC middleweight title for the first time. He…

Dricus Du Plessis Israel Adesanya

At UFC 305, Dricus Du Plessis will attempt to defend his UFC middleweight title for the first time. He will face a man who dominated the division as champion for years, Israel Adesanya.

Du Plessis and Adesanya have traded barbs for years now. ‘Stillknocks’ even admits that he doesn’t like Adesanya and will surely be relishing the opportunity to earn a victory against ‘The Last Stylebender’.

“If I’m in his head, I can’t tell you.  He feels the energy.  I can tell you that much,” Du Plessis told SHAK MMA (H/T MMA Weekly).  “I made the statement that his fire is gone, and I don’t believe that.  I think the fire is still there.  I just believe my fire is just; his fire is insignificant to mine.  

“The passion and fire that I have in me, the passion burning, is overshadowing his.  That’s why I can’t even see his fire, and I can’t feel it because the fire burning inside of me is so intense,” Dricus Du Plessis stated.  “Do I think I’m in his head?  Maybe not, but I do know that he’s in his own head.  That’s for sure.”

Dricus du Plessis laughs off Islam Makahchev middleweight threat: 'Everybody can dream'

Dricus Du Plessis doubts Israel Adesanya’s motivation

Obviously, Du Plessis firmly believes that his inner fire is just simply superior to that of the former champion Israel Adesanya. It has been a long time since the MMA world witnessed Adesanya in action. He last fought at UFC 293 and suffered a frustrating loss via unanimous decision at the hands of the scandalous Sean Strickland.

Since then, Adesanya has taken some seemingly much-needed time off and now has the opportunity to re-capture his lost title. The stylistic matchup between the two men is very interesting. Many would give Du Plessis the grappling edge, but only time will tell if the South African champion will be able to utilize this advantage.

Who do you think walks away victorious between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305?

Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’

Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, recently offered insights on the upcoming title showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya set for UFC 305. Du Plessis is set to make the first defense of his middleweight title in a much-awaited showdown of fierce rivalry against Adesanya, headlining the pay-per-view event on August 17 at the […]

Continue Reading Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’ at MMA News.

Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, recently offered insights on the upcoming title showdown between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya set for UFC 305.

Du Plessis is set to make the first defense of his middleweight title in a much-awaited showdown of fierce rivalry against Adesanya, headlining the pay-per-view event on August 17 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

“Stillknocks” was originally targeted to challenge Adesanya after his impressive victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July 2023. However, fate had other plans, as an injury sidelined the South African. In the meantime, “The Last Stylebender” suffered an unexpected defeat, losing the middleweight title to Strickland at UFC 293.

Du Plessis made a triumphant return by defeating Strickland in a razor-close split decision, clinching the 185-pound title at UFC 297 this past January. Now, the stage is perfectly set for these two adversaries to finally settle their scores in the Octagon as Adesanya gears up to make his return after an 11-month hiatus—the longest of his UFC career.

Nicksick believes that both fighters are evenly matched heading into UFC 305, but the outcome will hinge on just how much “The Last Stylebender” has sharpened his skills during his time away from the competition…

Nicksick Calls Du Plessis vs. Adesanya a ’50-50′ Battle

During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Nicksick dissected the highly anticipated clash between Du Plessis and Adesanya. The renowned MMA coach predicted that both fighters stand on equal footing with an even chance of victory. However, he emphasized that much will depend on how well the former UFC middleweight champion performs after such a lengthy hiatus from the sport.

“I kind of consider it a 50-50 coin flip, man. I really do. I’m very curious to see what type of Izzy comes back,” Nicksick said. “In a lot of ways, selfishly, I’m pulling for him because, you know, the division is much better with a talented and, you know, championship-level Israel Adesanya in the division.”

Nicksick went on to say that, based on Du Plessis’ performance against Strickland, he sees “Stillknocks” as the favorite. He noted that Du Plessis’ unorthodox style makes him a formidable challenge for Adesanya, potentially giving him the edge in this matchup.

“I really took a liking to Dricus over the last year or so. I wouldn’t say we’re close, but we’re friendly and very respectful towards one another, and I’m pulling for him in a lot of ways because I think he has been severely overlooked over the years. He’s a problem, man, and he’s only getting better. I think the way he’s starting to fight and understand who and what he is as a fighter—he’s awkward in a way like Sean is, but with more power, right? It’s hard—it’s very hard. It was very difficult for us to find particular sparring partners for Dricus’ camp. You’re not going to find many people that can fight like him.”

Du Plessis and Adesanya have been on a collision course long before their fiery face-off at UFC 290. Their upcoming showdown promises to be a captivating spectacle, as both fighters bring their own distinctive and formidable fighting styles to the table.

Continue Reading Sean Strickland’s Coach Breaks Down Du Plessis vs. Adesanya: ‘You’re Not Gonna Find Many People That Fight Like Him…’ at MMA News.

Islam Makhachev’s Coach Discusses Potential Middleweight Title Fight Against Du Plessis & Adesanya

Islam Makhachev will have been happy to see Belal Muhammad become the welterweight champion at UFC 304 after the training they have done together in the past. However, there is a sense that this result messed with the future plans of the lightweight champion. Had Leon Edwards defeated Muhammad and secured his third title defense, […]

Continue Reading Islam Makhachev’s Coach Discusses Potential Middleweight Title Fight Against Du Plessis & Adesanya at MMA News.

Islam Makhachev will have been happy to see Belal Muhammad become the welterweight champion at UFC 304 after the training they have done together in the past.

However, there is a sense that this result messed with the future plans of the lightweight champion.

Had Leon Edwards defeated Muhammad and secured his third title defense, Makhachev would have been high on the list of his potential challengers having laid out his ambition to become a two-weight world champion in the near future.

He now finds himself in a similar situation as to the one Kamaru Usman had during his welterweight title reign where he wanted a second belt but a friend of his, Israel Adesanya in Usman’s case, is the champion of the weight class above.

Just like how Usman briefly flirted with the idea of skipping over Adesanya’s division to jump up two weight classes instead, Makhachev has mentioned competing at middleweight.

Javier Mendez Gives His Take On Islam Makhachev Fighting At Middleweight

Though the idea was brushed off by the current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, maybe there is a future where Makhachev moves from 155 to 185.

He still has contenders to face in his own division and is set to be out for a bit longer due to a recently disclosed hand injury but the lightweight king has big ambitions.

In an interview with Submission Radio, his coach Javier Mendez spoke about what this would mean for Makhachev, revealing that whilst nothing serious has taken place, they have spoken about the idea.

“Islam said that middleweight would be kind of something but he’d have to put on some muscle so this is not just me, this is Islam thinking the same thing that yeah if it did ever come through, so it’s really not ideally something that we’re really looking at but it was something that was discussed but he’d have to put on some size if that was ever to happen.”

Mendez went on to say that whilst it would obviously be a tough and unheard of task to accomplish, he can understand why Makhachev would want to do it because it would define his legacy.

“If he was able to pull something like that off, if that ever was materialized and he did pull it off, that would put him in the top three pound-for-pound of all time.”

Read also: Belal Muhammad: There’s ‘Turmoil’ Between Leon Edwards & Coach After UFC 304 Loss

Continue Reading Islam Makhachev’s Coach Discusses Potential Middleweight Title Fight Against Du Plessis & Adesanya at MMA News.