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Israel Adesanya previews Dricus du Plessis fight: ‘I’ve never been more motivated to kill a man’

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 […]

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.

Israel Adesanya reveals plan to train with Jon Jones after squashing rivalry: ‘Why should I hate my brother?’

Having shared an infamous rivalry during their respective Octagon tenures over the last number of years, current UFC champions, Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones are slated to now serve as training partners for each other according to the former – who claims that a meeting of the two is currently in the works. Adesanya, the […]

Adesanya, the current and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, is expected to return to the Octagon at UFC 293 on September 9. in Sydney, Australia – taking on rival, Dricus du Plessis in a championship defense.

As for Jones, the former two-time light heavyweight titleholder returned triumphantly at UFC 285 back in March against Ciryl Gane, scooping a vacant heavyweight title with a first round guillotine choke submission win.

And in recent weeks, the Endicott native has been booked to headline UFC 295 in November at Madison Square Garden, taking on former two-time champion, Stipe Miocic in the Ohio veteran’s return to the Octagon.

Ahead of UFC 290 earlier this month during International Fight Week, surprising footage emerged of Adesanya and Jones sharing a cordial meeting in Las Vegas, before briefly play-sparring with each other.

Israel Adesanya reveals plan to train alongside UFC star, Jon Jones

Footage came as a surprise to many within the community, particularly as the duo had previously appeared to be on a certain collision course during Adesanya’s initial title run at middleweight, and Jones’ second run as light heavyweight titleholder.

However, according to City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya, he will share the training mats with Jones in the near future – with a plan for a training session currently in the works.

“Yeah, (the beef is squashed),” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “We have understanding and common ground. We’re just competitors, bro. It’s like, why should I hate my brother? I went deep and my YouTube comments, and everyone was like, ‘That made me smile, I was smiling so hard watching this.’”

“And giving people that feeling watching us spar and play around, it was like, is this what world peace would feel like?” Israel Adesanya explained. “We definitely will (train together). It’s in the works, it will happen.” (Transcribed by MMA Fighting)

Israel Adesanya defends racially-Charged encounter with Dricus du Plessis at UFC 290: ‘I just lost my sh*t’

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 […]

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.

Dricus du Plessis tipped to land upset title win over UFC foe Israel Adesanya: ‘He is that dude’

Expected to book his premiere title outing under the UFC banner – potentially as soon as September at UFC 293 in Australia, surging middleweight contender, Dricus du Plessis can most certainly upset the apple cart with a title victory against champion, Israel Adesanya, according to lightweight veteran, Michael Chandler. du Plessis, the newly-minted number one […]

du Plessis, the newly-minted number one ranked middleweight contender, managed to land himself atop the pecking order at 185lbs last weekend, defeating former champion and common-foe, Robert Whittaker with a blistering second round ground strikes TKO win.

Met by two-time and current undisputed middleweight champion, Adesanya inside the Octagon in a racially-charged verbal assault, Dricus du Plessis is expected to potentially fight the Nigerian-born striker as soon as UFC 293 in September, in a trip to Sydney, Australia.

Dricus du Plessis “talent” and “build” touted as challenge for Israel Adesanya

With his victory over Whittaker, former EFC and KSW champion, Dricus du Plessis moved to 6-0 under the UFC banner following recent wins over both Derek Brunson, and Darren Till – and according to Chandler, the South African finisher can most definitely push Adesanya to his limit in their title affair.

“I should probably do a fight prediction now,” Michael Chandler said on his YouTube channel. “I’ve trained with Dricus (du Plessis). I like Dricus. He’s trained with me down in Florida. I think he surprised a lot of people in the way he finished Robert Whittaker. He even said it himself in the post-fight press conference, ‘Look at Izzy’s (Israel Adesanya) fights against Whittaker and look at my fight against Whittaker.’”

“Dricus has a very tall task ahead of him, but Dricus proved to us all that he is that dude and he deserves to be right where he is,” Chandler continued. “I think Izzy has more weapons. I think Izzy has obviously has more championship fights, which then would give him more championship experience, more championship mentality. But can Dricsu go out there and steal the show and shock the world? Definitely a possibility. With that build, with that talent, I think it’s definitely a possibility. If I had to put money on it, I think Izzy still has the edge.”

Report: Deiveson Figueiredo set for bantamweight debut against Dominick Cruz in September

Former UFC champions will collide when Deiveson Figueiredo makes his bantamweight division debut against two-time former titleholder Dominick Cruz. First reported by Igor Ribeiro, Figueiredo will make his official move to 135 in September for a clash with division staple Dominick Cruz. A specific date was not provided, but the likeliest scenario will pit the […]

Former UFC champions will collide when Deiveson Figueiredo makes his bantamweight division debut against two-time former titleholder Dominick Cruz.

First reported by Igor Ribeiro, Figueiredo will make his official move to 135 in September for a clash with division staple Dominick Cruz. A specific date was not provided, but the likeliest scenario will pit the two fighters against one another on September 9 when the promotion heads back to Australia for UFC 293.

“Deiveson Figueiredo is very close to dating his debut in the French pesos,” Ribeiro said in a translated tweet. “The former flyweight champion negotiates to face Dominick Cruz, in September. Or verbal agreement is feito! ‘My employer is talking. It will be now for September,’” Figueiredo confirmed per the report.

DEIVESON VS DOM IS COMING SOON

Deiveson Figueiredo vs Dominick Cruz
September | 135 lbs | per @eiigorribeiro pic.twitter.com/r2bIgUAHYi

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) July 7, 2023

Figueiredo and Cruz Will Both Be Looking to Get Back in the Win Column

Deiveson Figueiredo will make his way to the bantamweight division after etching his name in the history books at flyweight, capturing the 125-pound crown twice, and competing in the promotion’s first-ever quadrilogy against reigning flyweight champ Brandon Moreno. Boasting a 10-3-1 record inside the Octagon, 21-3-1 overall, ‘Deus Da Guerra’ will look to add another division’s gold to his already impressive collection.

But first, Figueiredo will need to pass a very tough test when he meets perhaps the most celebrated bantamweight in the history of MMA, Dominick Cruz. ‘The Dominator’ was long considered to be the best 135’er in the game, but a series of serious injuries plagued Cruz throughout his career and kept him out of the Octagon for long stretches of time. During his time away, Cruz has made his presence known at the commentary table, often working alongside Daniel Cormier and Jon Anik to offer his own unique take on the fight game during live broadcasts.

Cruz’s last appearance inside the Octagon came in August 2022 when he suffered a brutal fourth-round head kick KO against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera. Prior to that, Cruz had back-to-back wins against Casey Kenny and Pedro Munhoz.

Israel Adesanya reveals prior sparring session with UFC rival Dricus du Plessis: ‘I just messed him up’

Undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has revealed he previously sparred with arch-rival, Dricus du Plessis years ago – claiming that when it came to striking exchanges between the two, he “messed up” the South African. Adesanya, the current and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 287 back in April of this year, successfully […]

Adesanya, the current and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, most recently headlined UFC 287 back in April of this year, successfully reclaiming the divisional crown with a stunning second round KO win over Alex Pereira in the pair’s UFC rematch.

As for du Plessis, the Pethora native most recently improved to 6-0 since his transition to the UFC back in 2020, securing a second round corner’s stoppage TKO win over common-opponent, Derek Brunson at UFC 285 in March.

Slated to return in an official middleweight title-eliminator at UFC 290 in July during Interational Fight Week, du Plessis will take on former middleweight champion and soon-to-be common-foe, Robert Whittaker – with the victor poised to fight Adesanya for gold later this year.

Israel Adesanya reveals prior sparring session with Dricus du Plessis

Making his feelings on a potential clash with du Plessis known, Adesanya claims he bested the former during striking exchanges in a prior sparring session.

“So, you know what’s funny? What’s funny to me – I remember this, we actually sparred,” Israel Adesanya said during an appearance on IMPAULSIVE. “We actually sparred. Hey, sparring is sparring. Alsjo you know what, I’m coming from China. I was doing kickboxing over there, I had no MMA, nothing. I was just kickboxing. I had MMA already, but it wasn’t sharp. It was blunt. My Jiu-Jitsu was blunt, very blunt.”

“So, we’re sparring – I don’t know if we did two rounds or one, it’s so long ago as well,” Israel Adesanya explained. “This is 2014, so, long ago. I remember like on the grappling he had me. But on striking, I just messed him up.” (Transcribed by MMA News)