For his next challenge, UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis would like to fight ex-champ Israel Adesanya in June or July in his home country of South…
For his next challenge, UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis would like to fight ex-champ Israel Adesanya in June or July in his home country of South…
Undisputed middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis has revealed an outstanding injury from his January title win over Sean Strickland…
Undisputed middleweight champion, Dricus du Plessis has revealed an outstanding injury from his January title win over Sean Strickland has ruled him from a UFC 300 grudge fight against Israel Adesanya – questioning why he would enter a training camp while compromised.
du Plessis, the current undisputed middleweight titleholder, most recently headlined UFC 297 back in January in Canada, landing the divisional crown with a close split decision win over the aforementioned common-foe, Strickland.
And immediately calling for a title fight defense with former two-time middleweight champion, Adesanya, South African favorite, du Plessis suggested the pair settle their long-standing differences at UFC 300 in April.
Responding to the new champion’s call out, Adesanya revealed that despite agreeing to an offer from the promotion to headline UFC 300 against du Plessis, the Pretoria native shut down the potential clash.
Dricus du Plessis reveals UFC 300 title fiasco
Confirming his decision to avoid a UFC 300 return next month in Las Vegas, du Plessis questioned why he would enter training camp whilst carrying an injury.
“With the conversations of [UFC] 300, that would’ve been a massive fight with me and Izzy (Israel Adesanya),” Dricus du Plessis whilst speaking with Cameron Saaiman It was on the table, 100 percent, but one thing people don’t realize is why would I go and start a camp once again, injured, if I am the champion? Taking risks is one thing, I have been taking risks, a lot, but why would I risk?”
“I’m the champion now, and I can fight when I’m ready,” Dricus du Plessis explained. “I think Izzy misjudges himself as still being a champion, and he’s not.”
Do you think Dricus du Plessis fights Israel Adesanya this year?
Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has shut down the possibility of another venture to the professional boxing…
Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has shut down the possibility of another venture to the professional boxing ring in the future amid links to a UFC comeback later this year – claiming it would cost any promoter too much to lure him back to the squared circle.
Adesanya, a former undisputed middleweight champion twice under the banner of the Dana White-led UFC, has been sidelined since last September, on that occasion setting an unwanted record and suffering his second championship loss in the space of a calendar year.
And linked with a comeback at the middleweight limit in a title fight against South African rival, Dricus du Plessis later this annum, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya claimed that the Pretoria native shut down an offered title grudge fight at UFC 300 in April.
“‘You ever thought about going in the boxing ring?’ I was like, I already did,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “6-1. The money’s too much for them to get me back. I just feel like I’ve already done that, and right now, the UFC’s looking after me pretty well. But I know what you mean – there’s a number, but I don’t think these guys are willing to pay it.”
Following late last month how he would entertain the possibility of training alongside two-time Octagon foe, Israel Adesanya in…
Following late last month how he would entertain the possibility of training alongside two-time Octagon foe, Israel Adesanya in the future if a third clash between the duo became elusive – light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira has effectively shut the door on a UFC rubber match with his rival in the future.
Pereira, a former undisputed middleweight champion and the current undisputed light heavyweight kingpin, is slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 300 in April, taking on Jamahal Hill in the monstrous event’s headlining clash.
As for Adesanya, the Nigerian-Kiwi striker claimed he had agreed to fight for middleweight gold once again in a grudge fight against newly-minted champion, Dricus du Plessis at the same event in a headliner, until the latter allegedly turned the bout down.
Alex Pereira unsure on Israel Adesanya trilogy
And claiming if a fan-anticipated third fight with City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya continues to allude him in the future, Pereira revealed he would love the chance to train with his former foe – claiming a future clash appears dead and buried currently.
“I really wanted to [fight Israel Adesanya again], but I honest think it’s over now,” Alex Pereira told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know. I think it’s over. I’ve tried [to offer him a third fight]. It was my belt [at light heavyweight] on the line. I came to the UFC and did three fights to get to the belt and it was a huge risek for me, it was hard.”
“Since I wanted to do this rubber match so much, Adesanya and I – and if he were to move up to light heavyweight, and maybe people said he had to fight once before fighting for my belt, I wouldn’t want that because there’s risk of him losing. How am I going to fight a guy that has lost? No, come straight [at me]. But he showed no interest, so I kind of let it go.”
Twice sharing the Octagon together, Pereira landed the middleweight crown back in 2022 with a stunning fifth round rallying TKO win over Adesanya, before he was stopped with a brutal second round KO last April in the pair’s immediate championship rematch.
Do you think Alex Pereira fights Israel Adesanya again in the future?
Israel Adesanya claims a title rematch with one-time foe, Sean Strickland will come round his direction again – and…
Israel Adesanya claims a title rematch with one-time foe, Sean Strickland will come round his direction again – and remains confident of avenging the defeat, however, still took time to once more mock the championship run of the former, which ended last month at UFC 297.
Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, has been sidelined since he fought Strickland atop UFC 293 back in September of last year, dropping a stunning upset decision shutout loss defeat to the Xtreme Couture staple in Sydney, Australia.
Promising a lengthy hiatus from the Octagon in the midst of his second middleweight championship loss in the space of a calendar year, Adesanya has made a significant u-turn – claiming he will fight sooner than expected.
And linked with a potential main event slot atop UFC 300 in April, Adesanya claimed he accepted a bout agreement to fight Pretoria rival, Dricus du Plessis in a title grudge match on the card, however, boldly claimed the South African reneged on the clash.
Israel Adesanya eyes title rematch with Sean Strickland
Still hoping to secure a fight with the newly-minted champion later this year, Adesanya revealed that he still wants to fight Strickland in a rematch before calling time on his career – claiming he just wasn’t supposed to win in their UFC 293 showcase.
“I look to the next fight, never – I look ahead, like a little peek at the future,” Israel Adesanya told Theo Von during an appearance on This Past Weekend. “But I don’t try to focus on it. And I just know the (Sean) Strickland fight will come back around, and I’m in a good place right now health wise, mentally, and I know exactly what happend in that fight, that just wasn’t for me.”
“He’s (Strickland) a great fighter,” Israel Adesanya continued. “He’s also a good champion – what a reign. I mean, he did what he did. Even the way he beat me was spectacular, it was his moment.”
Would you like to see Israel Adesanya rematch Sean Strickland this year?
Former undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has vowed to bring back his “vicious” jab with him to the Octagon…
Former undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has vowed to bring back his “vicious” jab with him to the Octagon in his return to the UFC later this year – dismissing question marks from fans and viewers of his apparent lack of action and excitement whilst fighting.
Adesanya, a former two-time titleholder at the 185lbs limit, has been sidelined since last September, headlining UFC 293.
Setting an unwanted record of suffering a second championship loss in the space of a calendar year, City Kickboxing striker, Adesanya dropped his title in a stunning upset loss to American challenger, Sean Strickland, which came less than a year after his knockout loss to arch-rival, Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden.
However, eyeing a comeback fight in the coming months, Adesanya boldly claimed that the promotion had floated a UFC 300 headliner for him in a title charge against middleweight gold holder, Dricus du Plessis, however, explained how the South African rejected the bout.
Israel Adesanya defends his striking style
Hoping to still score an impending return to active competition, Nigerian-Kiwi striker, Adesanya vowed to bring an apparent “vicious” jabbing technique back to the Octagon in tow, before describing himself as a “highlight” fighter in defense of recent criticizm from fans.
“There’s still more that I wanna do for myself,” Israel Adesanya told Theo Von during a recent interview. “I haven’t mastered the game yet. I’m still learning. Even right now, we’re working again on my jab. I’m changing it up now because there’s so much footage on me people can watch. …Like, my question mark kick was f*cking everyone up, early on. But it got to like – maybe after the Robert Whittaker fight, maybe the (Yoel) Romero fight, no – (Paulo) Costa fight – from that fight, people kind of know the question mark is coming.”
“My jab was vicious – it still is,” Israel Adesanya explained. “But I’m just bringing it back. I’m tuning it up again. So, it’s constant evolution, constant learning, every time. And my grappling as well, I do wanna show it off. F*ck the belts, and all that, it’s more highlights. For me, I’m a highlight guy.” (H/T MMA News)
Do you think Israel Adesanya fights Dricus du Plessis in his UFC return?