Tag: UFC 293

Despite continued months of a fiery rivalry, undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed it is now unlikely he will face arch-rival, Dricus du Plessis at UFC 293 in September in Sydney, Australia – claiming the surging contender is suffering from a foot injury.

Adesanya, the current and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, has yet to book his return to the Octagon since he reclaimed his divisional crown against Alex Pereira back in April at UFC 287, defeating the Brazilian with a thunderous second round KO win.

As for du Plessis, the South African challenger most recently featured on the main card of UFC 290 earlier this month during International Fight Week, defeating common-foe and former champion, Robert Whittaker – landing a stunning second round TKO win over the latter.

Israel Adesanya reveals a clash with Dricus du Plessis has been scuppered

And expected to fight Adesanya in a title clash on September 9. in the promotion’s return ‘Down Under’, du Plessis, who landed the number one rank in the middleweight division off the back of his stoppage win over Whittaker, is dealing with a pre-existing injury which will rule him from a UFC 293 return.

“I don’t even know how to start this, but Dricus du P*ssy (Dricus du Plessis), you f*cking b*tch,” Israel Adesanya said in a video posted on his Twitter account. “‘Oh, all he had to do was put on some gloves; I was ready to go again.’ No, you weren’t. You’re a b*tch. That’s why you’re not taking this fight. Your foot is sore. My knee was jacked for my last fight. Guess what I did? I showed up because that a f*cking champion does. Championship calibre, built different.”

“I lot of fighters talk about, ‘I’ll fight anyone, anywhere anytime,’” Israel Adesanya explained “No, you won’t. I do. Alex Volkanovski does. We’re built different. I’m at the gym right not about to get some work. I’m fighting in Sydney. I don’t give a f*ck who. D*ckless du P*ssy, f*ck off. You’re out. (Sean) Strickland, you’re in. Let’s do the man dance. Show you how to really dance. Yeah, I’m tired of all you guys talking sh*t about, ‘I can fight, I can fight.’ No, you can’t. du P*ssy. B*tch.” 

Expected to make his Octagon return at UFC 293 in September, current undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed he is “motivated to kill” inside the Octagon, and put a bad beating on expected foe, Dricus du Plessis.

Adesanya, a two-time undisputed middleweight champion, most recently featured atop a tuFC 287 card back in April in Miami, Florida – avenged a prior loss to Alex Pereira, defeating the Brazilian with a second round KO to reclaim the middleweight crown.

As for du Plessis, the newly-minted number one ranked middleweight contender earned his title fight with Israel Adesanya before the close of the year at UFC 290 during International Fight Week earlier this month, stopping common-foe and former champion, Robert Whittaker with a second round TKO win.

Expected to challenge Adesanya for undisputed gold at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia on September 9. – du Plessis has been picked as a stern challenge for the City Kickboxing striker.

Israel Adesanya insists he’s motivated to “kill” in his return to the Octagon

And motivation for a bout with the South African native is far from lacking for Adesanya, with the latter claiming he is “motivated” to kill in his return to the Octagon before the end of 2023.

“I’ve never been more motivated to kill a man,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel of a fight with Dricus du Plessis. “When I say that, I mean like not to end his life, but to really put a beating on someone. Not emotional anger. Just really want to take time and really put a beating on someone and I’m going to work my way to get that done in all ways, all shapes, all angles, all aspects of the fight.” 

Reflecing on his in-Octagon face-off with du Plessis at the above-mentioned UFC 290 event earlier this month, Adesanya claimed that he “lost my [his] sh*t” in his racially-charged tirade against the promotional-perfect Pretoria native.  

Following his racially-charged outburst aimed at incoming foe, Dricus du Plessis following his UFC 290 knockout win over former champion and common-foe, Robert Whittaker, defending middleweight kingpin, Israel Adesanya has defended his tirade aimed at the South African following criticizm he’s received. 

Adesanya, the current and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, is expected to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 293 in September, taking on recent big-winner and current number one ranked middleweight contender, du Plessis in a heated championship grudge match in Sydney, Australia.

Most recently headlining UFC 287 back in April of this year against former champion and arch-rival, Alex Pereira, Adesanya rebounded to the winner’s enclosure with a second round KO win over the Brazilian phenom.

Israel Adesanya reflects on his tirade against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290

And sharing the Octagon with du Plessis during a post-fight segment at UFC 290 during International Fight Week earlier this month, Israel Adesanya, who called the Pretoria native the ‘n-word’ on multiple occasions during their face-off, has reflected on his heated face-to-face with the former.

“He (Dricus du Plessis) worked hard,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “I manifest for myself and I make sure I do the work to get that manifestation right. It’s not just sit there and ‘Kumbaya’. What’s going to happen? I do the work. Trust me. There’s levels… Even at the prep point, I was giving him energy. Like, f*ck yeah – positive affirmations, like ‘Let’s go.’ But yeah, when (the face-off) happened, I just lost my sh*t.” 

Now in the midst of an impressive promotional-perfect six-fight winning run since transitioning to the UFC back in 2020, du Plessis has racked up wins over Markus Perez, Trevin Giles, Brad Tavares, former title challenger, Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and his aforenoted second round TKO win over former champion, Whittaker.