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Dricus du Plessis Breaks Down the Strategy That Bested Israel Adesanya at UFC 305

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya Stillknocks” Dricus du Plessis was able to defeat the former titleholder Israel Adesanya to defend the UFC middleweight world…

Stillknocks” Dricus du Plessis was able to defeat the former titleholder Israel Adesanya to defend the UFC middleweight world championship. The South African and Nigerian-Kiwi had a back-and-forth match in the UFC 305 headliner. Du Plessis broke down the game plan that he and his team used to defeat the expert striker.

Dricus du Plessis Talks Israel Adesanya – UFC 305

The South African athlete Dricus du Plessis has been on an unbeaten run in the UFC middleweight division. Before taking the title from Sean Strickland, he defeated fighters such as Robert Whittaker, Derek Brunson, also Darren Till, and now we can add Israel Adesanya to the list.

With a background in Judo and amateur kickboxing, Dricus du Plessis is a mixed-style fighter but mainly focuses on his grappling. While he is effective on the feet, the real bread and butter of his game in his top position wrestling. Israel Adesanya is a dangerous kickboxer with superb takedown defense so preparing for this fight is a huge challenge.

Speaking to the media, Dricus du Plessis shared what their game plan was coming into the middleweight title bout. Dricus du Plessis explained:

“So every round, you can at the beginning of that round I was standing my ground, but he was in the middle of the octagon, and he was almost dictating. But if you’re not used to fighting like that, you get more tired, if you’re not used fighting with that kind of pressure. And I didn’t back off. I wasn’t fighting on the outside, I just stood my ground. And every round, [with] around two minutes [left] my coach would shout, ‘Listen, it’s time to go!’

“And I would start pushing forward, start pushing forward. That’s when I started getting — every round at the end, I got the success, got the success. And every round, the first bit of the round when he was dictating would be shorter, shorter, shorter. In that fourth round, I landed quite a lot of big shots. The man can take a punch, but you can only take that many.

“I knew, physically, I’m stronger than Israel Adesanya. He is a master at getting back to his feet if you have his back. [Robert] Whittaker had his back many times. How many guys have gotten him down and not been able to do anything with it? So I got him down in the second round, landed a couple of hard shots, and every time he would get back to his feet, I didn’t fight him on it.

“I just kept control of the hits and landed big shots, because he was so focused on my hands on his hips, he wouldn’t protect his face. Land big shots, maybe they’d create a cut, that was what I was hoping for. Land big, big, hard punches, then get him back down to the ground so he has to do all that trouble [again].

“In that fourth, man was staggered from the blows. I could see when he went down, I landed big shots. I didn’t plan on taking him down. I was actually planning on knocking him out [but] body positioning was just that of, the best thing to do right now is take him down. And I could feel as we went to the ground, he wasn’t resisting at all. He was out of it a little, I got the back, and as soon as I straightened him out, it was over.” [Ht MMAFighting]

Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’

Israel Adesanya recently shed light on his post-fight interaction following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. Adesanya’s bid to reclaim the middleweight title for a third time ended in heartbreak as he fell to a fourth-round submission against “Stillknocks” last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. Adesanya started the […]

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’ at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya recently shed light on his post-fight interaction following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

Adesanya’s bid to reclaim the middleweight title for a third time ended in heartbreak as he fell to a fourth-round submission against “Stillknocks” last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Adesanya started the bout with impressive precision, appearing to have the fight under control. However, Du Plessis dramatically altered the course of the contest in the championship round, landing a torrent of potent blows that left the former champion reeling. The South African expertly seized the opening to lock in a decisive rear-naked choke to conclude the bout.

Though the build-up to this fight was marked by a fierce exchange of verbal jabs, particularly revolving around the cultural clash narrative, Adesanya and Du Plessis left the animosity behind once they settled their differences in the Octagon.

After the fight concluded, the middleweight rivals were seen exchanging cordial words in the Octagon before the result was announced. “Stillknocks” promptly paid tribute to his opponent, hailing the Nigerian-born Kiwi as a “legend” and a future “Hall of Famer.” In turn, “The Last Stylebender” hinted at a potential future camaraderie with Du Plessis, even suggesting they might hang out as he spoke with UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier.

Adesanya On Du Plessis: ‘I Don’t Think He’s A Bad Person’

During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Adesanya opened up about the exchange he had with Du Plessis after their bout. “The Last Stylebender” revealed that their words were filled with mutual respect and that his perception of the South African fighter has since evolved.

“Oh, he just gave me a lot of props, a lot of love, a lot of respect,” Adesanya said. “I accepted it and I shook his hand. Then, after his interview, when we were leaving the cage, we just talked. He said ‘sorry,’ maybe—I can’t remember—but he just gave me a lot of props. He said, ‘Hey, you know, I’m a big fan,’ and of course, I was like, ‘I know.’ And I said, ‘Look, look how far we’ve come from way back then—who would have thought? Now we’re here.’ I was like, ‘f**k yeah,’ and then we hugged. I said, ‘Look, I respect you, I appreciate you.’ I don’t think DDP is a bad person. I don’t know him. Again, we’re not friends, we don’t know each other, but we can be cool—we’re cool, and I respect him.”

Adesanya further stressed that any lingering grudges against Du Plessis are now a thing of the past.

“It was never beef. Again, when I say beef, it’s just like you have to fight someone—you don’t have to like them. You don’t have to like them. Again, he didn’t like me, I didn’t like him, but I think now we have a healthy respect for each other. I won’t say we’re BFFs or we’re friends, but if I see him, it’s love. I’ll give him a hug, I’ll dap him up.”

The rivalry between Adesanya and Du Plessis had seen its ups and downs over the past year, starting when Adesanya held the title, and Du Plessis vowed to become the UFC’s first “true African champion.”

Read More: Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanya’s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: ‘You Have An Incredible Son’

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’ at MMA News.

Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’

Kamaru Usman recently expressed his views on Dricus Du Plessis’ impressive win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. “Stillknocks” retained his UFC middleweight championship in commanding style last weekend, submitting Adesanya with a fourth-round rear-naked choke in a thrilling contest at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. In a fiercely contested bout where neither fighter […]

Continue Reading Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’ at MMA News.

Kamaru Usman recently expressed his views on Dricus Du Plessis’ impressive win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

“Stillknocks” retained his UFC middleweight championship in commanding style last weekend, submitting Adesanya with a fourth-round rear-naked choke in a thrilling contest at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

In a fiercely contested bout where neither fighter held back, Du Plessis displayed remarkable grit and determination. As the fight entered the championship rounds, the South African unleashed a relentless flurry of punches that left “The Last Stylebender” reeling. Seizing the momentum, the defending champion secured a takedown and swiftly transitioned to lock in a decisive submission.

Despite a rivalry that had flared up and taken an ugly turn on multiple occasions, Du Plessis and Adesanya finally put their animosity to rest after their historic clash. The bout, steeped in a fierce cultural clash narrative, marked the UFC’s first-ever all-African title fight.

Adesanya, originally born in Lagos, Nigeria, and later relocating to New Zealand at a young age, had previously accused Du Plessis of undermining the legacy of the “African Kings”. This tension began when “Stillknocks” had boldly claimed he wanted to be the ‘real’ African UFC champion.

The title of “African Kings” was a prestigious moniker bestowed upon Adesanya, alongside Usman and Francis Ngannou, during a time when the trio simultaneously held UFC belts, representing the continent on the global stage.

“The Nigerian Nightmare” provided a nuanced perspective about the heated feud heading into UFC 305 and also his thoughts on where Du Plessis fits into UFC’s African elite.

Usman Includes Du Plessis In UFC’s African Elite

During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman delved into Du Plessis’ victory over Adesanya at UFC 305. However, the conversation quickly escalated into a lively debate when the former UFC welterweight champion voiced his displeasure over Cejudo’s lighthearted remark – where he dubbed Du Plessis the “Real African King.”

“I understand it was a whole marketing thing for Dricus Du Plessis, which he might not have necessarily meant in the way that Israel might have taken it,” Usman said. “But you have to be careful because it’s dangerous—it’s very, very dangerous. You have to be careful with what you say because now we’re in a position to influence the masses in the world. So, with power—I say it all the time—with great power comes great responsibility. When you have that platform and you have that mic in your hand, you have to be careful with what you say.”

“The Nigerian Nightmare” went on to emphasize that Du Plessis is actually the fourth African champion.

“So to say, ‘Oh, I’m the real African,’ that’s completely crazy. And for you [Cejudo] to say that perpetually, ‘Oh, he’s the real African king,’ I know you’re just joking, but it’s not—this is how division continues to be perpetuated. Dricus Du Plessis is the fourth African champion right now, so there are four horsemen. We’ve moved on from the three kings to where now it’s four horsemen. So to continue to perpetuate this whole ‘Oh, African king’ or this or that, that’s ridiculous.”

Read More: 5 Positives & 3 Negatives From UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

Continue Reading Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’ at MMA News.

Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’

Continue Reading Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’ at MMA News.

Kamaru Usman recently expressed his views on Dricus Du Plessis’ impressive win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

“The Nigerian Nightmare” provided a nuanced perspective about the heated feud heading into UFC 305 and also his thoughts on where Du Plessis fits into UFC’s African elite.

Usman Includes Du Plessis In UFC’s African Elite

“I understand it was a whole marketing thing for Dricus Du Plessis, which he might not have necessarily meant in the way that Israel might have taken it,” Usman said. “But you have to be careful because it’s dangerous—it’s very, very dangerous. You have to be careful with what you say because now we’re in a position to influence the masses in the world. So, with power—I say it all the time—with great power comes great responsibility. When you have that platform and you have that mic in your hand, you have to be careful with what you say.”

“The Nigerian Nightmare” went on to emphasize that Du Plessis is actually the fourth African champion.

“So to say, ‘Oh, I’m the real African,’ that’s completely crazy. And for you [Cejudo] to say that perpetually, ‘Oh, he’s the real African king,’ I know you’re just joking, but it’s not—this is how division continues to be perpetuated. Dricus Du Plessis is the fourth African champion right now, so there are four horsemen. We’ve moved on from the three kings to where now it’s four horsemen. So to continue to perpetuate this whole ‘Oh, African king’ or this or that, that’s ridiculous.”

Read More: 5 Positives & 3 Negatives From UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

Continue Reading Classy Kamaru Usman Reacts To Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘We’ve Moved On From Three Kings To Four Horsemen’ at MMA News.

5 Fights We Need to See After UFC 305

UFC 305 went down on Saturday night in Perth, Australia, and turned out to be a career-changing night for many of the fighters on the bill. The main event…

‘I’m Not F***ing Leaving’ Israel Adesanya Not Looking to Retire Despite Loss

Israel Adesanya was adamant about the future after losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, maintaining that this…

Israel Adesanya was adamant about the future after losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, maintaining that this would not be the end for him.

The battle was very even in the first few rounds. Eventually, Adesanya looked to be edging out a lead with the aid of some spectacular body shots in the third round. However, Du Plessis wasn’t about to give up, and he wobbled ‘The Last Stylebender’ in the fourth round, which led to him securing a takedown and later on the submission victory over Adesanya.

At 35 years of age and coming off back-to-back losses, Adesanya could easily step away from the sport. According to his account, that’s not what he intends to do, though. He didn’t even seem in very bad spirits after the fight and held a rather optimistic outlook.

Israel Adesanya makes it clear that his MMA career isn’t over

“…I’m disappointed in myself but at the same time proud,” Israel Adesanya told Daniel Cormier during his post-fight interview in the octagon. “Cuz this is the best I’ve ever felt. This is the best I’ve ever looked. And I just had the better man on the night, so I give him respect for that.”

Cormier pointed out that this fight would be Adesanya’s 12th consecutive title fight and asked him what he intended to do next. Israel Adesanya didn’t hesitate to be upfront with his answer and maintained that he intended to go absolutely nowhere. “I’m not f***ing leaving!” Adesanya would exclaim, the crowd roaring in approval.

Now, on a bit of a skid, it is unclear when Adesanya wishes to return to MMA action. At his age, it will undoubtedly take an extraordinary fight to motivate him to return. Who knows what the UFC’s Middleweight title landscape will look like when he does?

Do you think Dricus Du Plessis has what it takes to go on a memorable title reign?