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Israel Adesanya claims to have ‘paved the way’ for Dricus Du Plessis: ‘He’s the fourth African champion’

Israel Adesanya 'paved the way' for Dricus Du Plessis: 'He's the fourth African champion' Israel Adesanya believes he, and other African champions like Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou, paved the way for Dricus…

Israel Adesanya believes he, and other African champions like Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou, paved the way for Dricus Du Plessis.

It’s no secret that ‘The Last Stylebender’ is not overly fond of the new middleweight world champion, particularly after Du Plessis proclaimed that he would become the UFC’s first true African champion. Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria before relocating to New Zealand at the age of 10, took exception to the comment and engaged in a racially charged face-off with ‘Stillknocks’ at UFC 290.

The two were expected to square off in late 2023/early 2024, but Sean Strickland threw a massive kink in those plans with a decisive decision victory over Adesanya to claim the 185-pound crown.

Four months later, ‘Tarzan’ relinquished the belt to Du Plessis, once again setting the stage for an epic showdown between the two African stars, though with their roles reversed.

Speaking about his tense feud with Du Plessis, Adesanya insisted that it was he, alongside a few other African superstars, who walked inside the Octagon so DDP could run.

“I paved the way for him,” Adesanya said on The MMA Hour. “Without me, one of the great African champions, he wouldn’t be here. He’s the fourth African champion in this game. Kudos to him, but we paved the way for him.”

Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, and Kamaru Usman

Israel Adesanya insists the people of south Africa are his people

No official date has been booked for Adesanya and Du Plessis’ inevitable clash, but ‘Stillknocks’ has been pushing hard for the fight to go down in his native South Africa.

Asked about potentially fighting DDP on his home turf, the ‘Stylebender’ made it clear that the South African people are his people.

“Of course, they’re my people,” Adesanya said when asked if he would fight in South Africa. “I don’t care about cheers. They’re my people. I’m more in touch with the culture in South Africa than he is. I can guarantee you that. The people tell me, the people know. When I go there, the body language, the dancers, the vibe. When I’m there, they’ll know and they tell me, I’m their people.”

Check out Israel Adesanya’s full appearance on The MMA Hour below:

Alex Pereira offers a sassy response to Jamahal Hill getting advice from Israel Adesanya ahead of UFC 300

Alex Pereira thinks Jamahal Hill asking two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya for advice is a smart move. On Saturday night…

Alex Pereira thinks Jamahal Hill asking two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya for advice is a smart move.

On Saturday night (April 13) ‘Sweet Dreams’ returns to the Octagon for the first time since a light heavyweight title-winning performance against Glover Teixeira in January 2023. Sadly, Hill never had the chance to defend the strap as he suffered an Achilles injury six months later, forcing him to vacate the 205-pound crown.

Having never lost the belt, Hill hopes to pick up right where he left off when he challengers current champ Alex Pereira in the UFC 300 headliner in Sin City.

Considering it’s only been nine months since Hill sustained the devastating injury, pundits were quick to question how healthy Hill could actually be by the time he steps inside the cage. Pereira, on the other hand, is not overly concerned with Hill’s status, one way or another.

“I definitely don’t have expectations of him just sitting out, not training because of an injury,” Pereira said through his translator at the UFC 300 media day. “If he signed the contract to fight this fight, he did for a reason. He knows the test he has ahead of himself, so I’m very aware of it.”

Earlier this month, Jamahal Hill revealed that he had sought out the advice of former middleweight champion and perennial Alex Pereira adversary, Israel Adesanya. Hill said that ‘The Last Stylebender’ shared “some advice and insights on what he’s seen and his experience of being in there fighting Alex.”

Responding to the news, Pereira offered up a cheeky response to both Adesanya and his UFC 300 opponent.

“I think it was good,” Pereira said. “Actually, it was the best thing he could have done for himself, because if he had went and sparred with Israel Adesanya, it would have been a big frustration for him, especially for the fact that I beat him so many times.”

Alex Pereira reacts to Israel Adesanya giving Jamahal Hill advice before #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/XrBzAfZpkb

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) April 10, 2024

Alex Pereira has gone toe-to-toe with the ‘Stylebender’ on four separate occasions — twice under the GLORY Kickboxing banner and twice inside the Octagon. ‘Poatan’ went 3-0 against Adesanya, knocking him out in back-to-back fights before the New Zealander finally broke through and got himself into the win column.

Alex Pereira not concerned with a potential move to heavyweight

Having already claimed both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles in his first seven fights under the UFC banner, rumors have been circulating that ‘Poatan’ could make the move up to heavyweight in an attempt to become the promotion’s first-ever three-division champion.

Perhaps one day, but for now, Pereira is perfectly content stacking bodies at the 205 level.

“There is no plan.” Pereira said. “The next step is to keep defending the title, unlimited times. I’m not the kind of guy to call out opponents because I’ll fight anybody. I’m the champ. I’ll keep defending it.”

Dricus du Plessis puts fight with title rival Israel Adesanya on ice: ‘You’re summoned when I say you’re summoned’

Linked with an August comeback against former champion, Israel Adesanya later this summer at UFC 305, defending middleweight titleholder,…

Linked with an August comeback against former champion, Israel Adesanya later this summer at UFC 305, defending middleweight titleholder, Dricus du Plessis maintains that when he wants to “summon” the former to share the Octagon with him – he will do so, following a failed pairing at UFC 300 this weekend.

du Plessis, the current undisputed middleweight champion, won divisional spoils back in January atop UFC 297, handing common-foe, Sean Strickland a controversial split decision defeat in the pair’s grudge fight.

Dricus du Plessis taunts Israel Adesanya into UFC title fight be a man of your word and let's do this — Mandatory Credit: Vaughan Ridley

As for City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya, the former two-time gold holder has been sidelined since last September, dropping a championship fight to the above-mentioned, Strickland in a surprising decision shutout out the outspoken ex-champion.

Vetoing a potential UFC 300 title fight with the Nigerian-Kiwi this weekend as he continues to deal with lingering injuries from his fight with Strickland, Pretoria native, du Plessis is targeted to fight Adesanya in Perth as soon as August – with the pair potentially lined up to take main event honors at UFC 305.

Dricus du Plessis vows to “summon” Israel Adesanya when he wants

Commenting on a potential fight with Adesanya in August as well as how a bout was scrapped for this weekend’s pay-per-view return, du Plessis claimed he would “summon” the ex-champion for a fight whenever he so pleased.

Israel Adesanya backed to struggle in Khamzat Chimaev fight in future he's not gonna win UFC — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

“…Once you get the title, you don’t have to make those risks, because it’s not an opportunity, it’s an opportunity for the contender, not mine,” Dricus du Plessis told during an appearance on the Shadow Banned podcast. “I declined fighting. It was with a heavy heart I had to decline UFC 300 because what an amazing privilege it is to be headlining that card.”

“But Izzy (Israel Adesanya) saying he’s been summoned, no,” Dricus du Plessis explained. “You are summoned when I say you’re summoned.”

Who wins in a future title fight: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?

Jamahal Hill sought out advice from Israel Adesanya on how to beat Alex Pereira in title fight at UFC 300

Jamahal Hill is scouring the earth for any and every piece of knowledge he can find about his UFC…

Jamahal Hill is scouring the earth for any and every piece of knowledge he can find about his UFC 300 opponent ahead of what is undoubtedly the most important fight of his career.

For ‘Sweet Dreams’ this match will serve as a harbinger of redemption. After a torn achilles that would result in him losing the title he worked so desperately hard for, he now gets the chance to prove himself once more and earn it again. But, the man standing in his way is seemingly more beast than man, and many who have stood in his way have fallen.

Alex Pereira claims he's back in cryptic post on social media amid links to fight at UFC 300 — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

The man is Alex Pereira, and in only about three years with the UFC, he has become the stuff of legends. Few can forget the way he followed his rival over from kickboxing and skyrocketed up the UFC’s middleweight rankings. When he finally got his chance to face Israel Adesanya in the UFC, he captured the middleweight title and fully cemented himself amongst his peers. And now, even at light heavyweight, Pereira has found success with two consecutive victories.

Jamahal Hill seeks Israel Adesanya’s Advice for facing his toughest test to date in Alex Pereira

In what can be considered a wise move, Hill has admittedly reached out to the former middleweight champion Adesanya. “[Israel Adesanya was] just giving me some advice and insights on what he’s seen and his experience of being in there fighting Alex,” Hill revealed during the UFC Vegas 90 post-fight show (H/T MMA Fighting). “Just basically essentially those things and how to approach and things like that.”

Alex Pereira sends fans into raptures links to UFC 300 return third title fight — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Jamahal Hill knows that he himself also presents a massive challenge to Pereira and has a victory over Pereira’s mentor, Glover Teixeira. So, he claims that he really hasn’t changed much about his fight camp, leading into this particular battle.

“Still the same as usual,” Jamahal Hill said of his training. “You end the camp, stay loose, get the weight down. Make weight and go and do your thing.

“Training’s been great. I’m always growing, I’m always learning new things, always adding new things. Always trying new things out. It’s been going great. Martial arts is just one of those journeys, you’ve got to enjoy the process and that’s what I’m doing.”

‘Sweet Dreams’ also claims that the pressure of headlining a bi-centennial card like UFC 300 just merely adds to his excitement. In fact, he’s thrilled about having the chance to prove himself on such a large stage.

Alex Pereira expected to move to light heavyweight after UFC 287 loss Israel Adesanya — Mandatory Credit: Cooper Neil – Zuffa LLC

“One hundred percent it’s exciting,” Jamahal Hill said. “The best way I can describe it, it’s like in basketball, it’s like whenever you show up to the All-Star game. All-Star weekend, everybody wants to show their skills, want to make their name, want to get off like that. This is what this opportunity is.

“There’s a lot of big names on this card. A lot of guys with reputations that bring it. That bring an exciting fight so if you want your names to be among those and with that, it’s your chance to come with it and bring it.”

What do you think about Jamahal Hill’s chances against Alex Pereira?

Report: Israel Adesanya ‘100% in’ for Du Plessis UFC 305 Fight; No Contract Offered

It appears Israel Adesanya could return to the octagon at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, this summer. Adesanya is “100 percent in” for a UFC 305 middleweight…

Dricus du Plessis agrees to fight Israel Adesanya at UFC 305: ‘Looks like someone wants a beating in Australia’

Poking fun at arch-rival, Israel Adesanya’s one-sided decision loss to common-foe, Sean Strickland during their title clash Downunder last…

Poking fun at arch-rival, Israel Adesanya’s one-sided decision loss to common-foe, Sean Strickland during their title clash Downunder last year, incumbent middleweight kingpin, Dricus du Plessis appears to have accepted a potential UFC 305 title defense against the City Kickboxing staple in Perth in August of this year.

du Plessis, the current undisputed middleweight champion, turned in a close, split decision win over the above-mentioned, Strickland back in January in Canada, in the pair’s title fight main event at UFC 297.

Sean Strickland claims Canada tried to pull him from UFC 297 title fight they absolutely hated me — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Himself sidelined since he dropped his championship to Strickland back in September of last year back in Sydney, Adesanya has campaigned for a grudge fight with du Plessis – with his head coach, Eugene Bareman confirming if a UFC 305 championship outing was floated, his client would most definitely accept it.

“Israel will be fighting for the title next,” Bareman said. “The date, I’m not sure. Give us a date and we’ll take it. We’re sitting ready to go.”

Israel Adesanya shuts down boxing move from UFC the money's too much to get me back — Mandatory Credit: Mike Roach – Zuffa LLC

“Israel’s pretty adamant that he has to fight for the title,” Bareman explained. “It’s not up to du Plessis. If that was the case, I wish Israel as a champion had those sorts of choices. The truth is, he probably doesn’t.”

Dricus du Plessis alludes to UFC 305 title fight return

And providing an update on his first attempted title fight defense later this year, South African force, du Plessis hinted at a UFC 305 title fight in Australia, in the form of a well-overdue grudge fight against Adesanya.

“Looks like someone wants another beating in Aus,” Dricus du Plessis posted on his official Instagram. “I’m in. I also wouldn’t want to fight the King of Africa on home soil. Manifestations working good for you AGAIN! #stillknocks #proudlysouthafricanza #preparetobeamazed #championoftheworld”

Who wins in a UFC 305 title clash: Dricus du Plessis or Israel Adesanya?