Tag: Israel Adesanya

Daniel Cormier Says Dricus Du Plessis Can Become a Double Champ in the UFC

Daniel Cormier Says Dricus Du Plessis Can Become a Double Champ in the UFCDaniel Cormier firmly believes that Dricus Du Plessis can do anything he sets his mind to, including capturing a…

Daniel Cormier Says Dricus Du Plessis Can Become a Double Champ in the UFC

Daniel Cormier firmly believes that Dricus Du Plessis can do anything he sets his mind to, including capturing a second UFC title.

On Saturday, ‘Stillknocks’ will defend his middleweight strap for the first time since stealing a split decision against ex-titleholder Sean Strickland in January. Standing in Du Plessis’ way of a successful defense will be Israel Adesanya, who looks to make history by becoming the promotion’s first-ever three-time champ at 185.

The two will headline UFC 305, emanating from RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis

Sharing his take on Du Plessis’ meteoric rise from prospect to world champion, Cormier believes the South African’s unique style has been largely responsible for his immense success and he expects that to continue in The Land Down Under.

“The problem with Dricus is that the things he does don’t look like everybody else’s,” Cormier told Submission Radio. “His feet may cross at an odd time, he may throw a punch from a weird angle, or he might do a takedown in a weird way, but it’s working. So you have to accept that just because it looks different, it’s not wrong—it’s his way, right? It’s his style, and he’s mastered it. He’s mastered it to the point that he’s the world champion. So I think that awkwardness will play to his benefit on Saturday night” (h/t MMA News).

Cormier confident Dricus du Plessis can capture double-gold with ‘the right matchup’

Having not yet defended the middleweight title, pundits were quick to caution Du Plessis’ desire to move up and try to claim a second crown. However, ‘DC’ is done doubting ‘DDP,’ suggesting that the man who made Izzy cry can do anything he wants inside the Octagon.

“I’m not doubting him no more. I’m just done doubting Dricus Du Plessis, man. I think he can do whatever he wants, you know? He’s shown time and time again that he can do anything, and Alex Pereira showed that it’s possible, right? Going from middleweight to light heavyweight and winning, and winning a lot. So yeah, I think he could, under the right circumstances. A lot of times it’s about matchups, right? The right person holding the belt is what makes you make that decision, and I think with the right matchup, Dricus can be a double champ.”

Dricus Du Plessis

With Adesanya on Saturday and Sean Strickland already on deck, it’ll probably be a while before ‘Stillknocks’ is allowed to move up, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t already salivating over the idea of a champion vs. champion clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Alex Pereira.

Alex Pereira

Former UFC Fighter Makes Bold Prediction For How Israel Adesanya’s Career Will End: ‘Bookmark This Clip…’

An ex-UFC heavyweight contender thinks he has a good idea of how the final chapter of Israel Adesanya’s career will play out. Dricus Du Plessis believes that after everything that Adesanya has accomplished in his career, he no longer has the same hunger to compete at the highest level. “The Last Stylebender” has a great […]

Continue Reading Former UFC Fighter Makes Bold Prediction For How Israel Adesanya’s Career Will End: ‘Bookmark This Clip…’ at MMA News.

An ex-UFC heavyweight contender thinks he has a good idea of how the final chapter of Israel Adesanya’s career will play out.

Dricus Du Plessis believes that after everything that Adesanya has accomplished in his career, he no longer has the same hunger to compete at the highest level. “The Last Stylebender” has a great run in the UFC’s middleweight division, and even if he was to walk away today, he’d be regarded as one of the best to ever do it in his weight class.

However, having recaptured the 185-pound title once before, the big question is whether the time that he has spent away will produce a rejuvenated Adesanya at UFC 305 this weekend.

He was incredibly active before taking a year off, and this meant that he was battling through injuries and potentially lost some focus heading into UFC 293 last September,

His loss to Sean Strickland was a shocking upset but it could have potentially led to what would be a third title reign for Adesanya.

Brendan Schaub Predicts Israel Adesanya Is Far From Done In MMA Following UFC 305

During his preview of all the action that is set to take place at UFC 305 this Saturday (Sunday local time) in Perth, Brendan Schaub gave his prediction for Adesanya’s path to retirement.

Unlike Du Plessis, he doesn’t think that “The Last Stylebender” is ready to walk away right now without becoming a UFC champion once again.

Schaub believes that Adesanya still has some career-defining fights left in him and went bold on the idea that when all is said and done, he will overtake the great Anderson Silva as being the best fighter to ever grace the middleweight division.

“This is how Izzy’s career is gonna go. He’s gonna beat Dricus, he’s gonna outclass him on Saturday. He’s gonna beat the s*** out of him, he’s gonna outclass this dude. It’s gonna be the old vintage Izzy. By old I mean, a year ago. He’s gonna beat the s*** out of him because he’s had rest, he’s no longer the hunted, he’s the hunter.

“He’s gonna beat Dricus, then he’s gonna fight Sean Strickland and he’s gonna be 100 percent focused. He’s gonna beat Sean Strickland. Then, he’s gonna take a break and then you’re gonna get Alex (Pereira) vs. Izzy at 205 (pounds); it’s his last fight ever and his wins over Dricus and Sean Strickland, I think there’s an argument now, makes him the greatest middleweight of all time. That’s how his story ends.”

Continue Reading Former UFC Fighter Makes Bold Prediction For How Israel Adesanya’s Career Will End: ‘Bookmark This Clip…’ at MMA News.

UFC 305 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, Gamrot vs. Hooker, Tuivasa vs. Rozenstruik, & More

UFC 305 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup. The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, August 17, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM […]

Continue Reading UFC 305 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, Gamrot vs. Hooker, Tuivasa vs. Rozenstruik, & More at MMA News.

UFC 305 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, August 17, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.

Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, who is tasked with getting the better of returning great Israel Adesanya if he’s to record a first successful title defense and stall the three-time ambitions of the Nigerian-New Zealander.

Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another two Oceanic fighters in action. Pursuing a win in his home city is Steve Erceg, who competes again three months on from a narrowly failed title bid opposite Alexandre Pantoja. Hoping to send him to a first career skid is Kai Kara-France.

Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of lightweight fan favorite Dan Hooker, heavyweight slugger Tai Tuivasa, and returning welterweight Li Jingliang.

Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 305 main card here.

UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 305 (as of 8/17), courtesy of DraftKings.

Main Card:

  • Dricus Du Plessis (-108) vs. Israel Adesanya (-112)
  • Kai Kara-France (+185) vs. Steve Erceg (-225)
  • Mateusz Gamrot (-410) vs. Dan Hooker (+320)
  • Tai Tuivasa (+200) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (-245)
  • Li Jingliang (+275) vs. Carlos Prates (-345)

Preliminary Card:

  • Junior Tafa (-118) vs. Valter Walker (-102)
  • Joshua Culibao (-122) vs. Ricardo Ramos (+102)
  • Casey O’Neill (+120) vs. Luana Santos (-142)
  • Jack Jenkins (-625) vs. Herbert Burns (+455)

Early Preliminary Card:

  • Tom Nolan (-1200) vs. Alex Reyes (+750)
  • Song Kenan (-218) vs. Ricky Glenn (+180)
  • Stewart Nicoll (-205) vs. Jesus Aguilar (+170)

Continue Reading UFC 305 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, Gamrot vs. Hooker, Tuivasa vs. Rozenstruik, & More at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya: Dricus Du Plessis’ Past Opponents Have Underestimated His ‘Spirit’

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya knows the mistakes Dricus Du Plessis’ past opponents made that he cannot afford to replicate this weekend. The pair will collide in the main event of the UFC 305 pay-per-view, set to go down inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. On the line will be Du Plessis’ […]

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya: Dricus Du Plessis’ Past Opponents Have Underestimated His ‘Spirit’ at MMA News.

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya knows the mistakes Dricus Du Plessis’ past opponents made that he cannot afford to replicate this weekend.

The pair will collide in the main event of the UFC 305 pay-per-view, set to go down inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. On the line will be Du Plessis’ 185-pound gold, as he looks to make a first successful defense.

Adesanya, on the other hand, will be targeting a record third title crowning in the division — a feat yet to be achieved by any middleweight. To do so, the Nigerian-New Zealander must achieve another first.

The South African champ is yet to taste defeat on MMA’s biggest stage, going 7-0 to secure his place on the throne. Among those to fall to Du Plessis’ rise are the great Robert Whittaker and recent titleholder Sean Strickland.

But “The Last Stylebender” believes he knows how to avoid joining that list of victims, and the errors made by the likes of “The Reaper.”

Adesanya Won’t Play Into Du Plessis’ ‘Game’ At UFC 305

During an interview for UFC.com, Adesanya looked ahead to his opportunity to make history in Perth, which comes 11 months on from his shock title defeat to Strickland in Sydney last time out.

While he and Du Plessis certainly have their differences, both have expressed glimpses of praise for one another’s ability. And “The Last Stylebender” recently threw his opponent’s “spirit” and “toughness” into that mix while identifying the areas in which the South African’s past UFC rivals have failed to give him the necessary respect.

“They underestimate his spirit, his toughness,” Adesanya said. “He’s a tough guy. Also, they play his game. He makes it really dirty. And when I say dirty, it’s not in a bad way. He makes it really ugly and messy and then shoots on them and strikes from all angles and a different pace and cadence. I’ve looked at it, I’ve watched it for a while, and I look forward to exploiting it. He’s going to try to exploit me, but again, we shall see.

“When it’s time to go, when I lock in, and I’m really locked in, I destroy people,” Adesanya continued. “And this one, I’ve been really locked in for this fight and I’m going to destroy this guy.”

Having identified what he needs to be wary of, Adesanya will hope to make good on his promise to make Du Plessis’ reign a short one come fight night Down Under.

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya: Dricus Du Plessis’ Past Opponents Have Underestimated His ‘Spirit’ at MMA News.

Dricus du Plessis brings Israel Adesanya to Tears during Intense UFC 305 Press Conference

Dricus du Plessis brings Israel Adesanya crying during Intense UFC 305 Press ConferenceDricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya had quite an intense pre-fight press conference leading into UFC 305 in which…

Dricus du Plessis brings Israel Adesanya crying during Intense UFC 305 Press Conference

Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya had quite an intense pre-fight press conference leading into UFC 305 in which “The Last Stylenbender” was brought to tears and crying.

Dricus du Plessis brings Israel Adesanya to Tears

“Stillknocks” Dricus du Plessis, born in South Africa, is proud to hold the UFC title while still living in South Africa. The Nigerian-Kiwi Adesanya has called out du Plessis for not being a real African because he is white. Du Plessis countered by saying Adesanya grew up wealthy and did not have to struggle.

Here was an exchange at the UFC 305 press conference that made Israel Adesanya cry. “The Last Stylenbender” opened with:

“On Tuesday, I’m going back to Nigeria. I think on Friday I’m going to South Africa, and then next week I’m going back to New Zealand. I am a child of the earth, and when I take this belt, I’m taking it everywhere with me.”

Dricus du Plessis said:

“Are you taking the servants with you when you’re going back? Are you taking the servants with you when you’re going back?”

Israel Adesanya replied:

“Shut the f* up! You don’t even know anything about my story. You have no idea who the f* I am. Don’t care about my story? Listen, my father and I had to wake up at 4:00 a.m. and clean the banks while my mom studied to be a nurse. You don’t know my story, so don’t speak of it if you don’t know it. I will show you who you are on Sunday. So right now, shut the f*** up.”

Lastly, with tears in his eyes and looking at his family in the front row, Israel Adesanya concluded with:

“He touched on the subject there. I do this for my family. I do this for the people I love, and I will fight for you forever, I swear to God. Watch this—look, I’m a human being, I am a man. I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time. I feel the love from the crowd. The first time I fought here was UFC 221, back in February 2018. That was me making my dream come true. But on Sunday, I’m going to kill your dreams, b****.”

Israel Adesanya crying UFC 305

Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya – UFC 305

South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis was able to capture the middleweight title from Sean Strickland, the same man who defeated and took the championship from Israel Adesanya. Now, the former division king to looking to reclaim his title at UFC 305. It has been an intense pre-fight lead-up full of tears and crying. This middleweight championship title match goes down live from Perth, Australia booked for this weekend.