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Israel Adesanya was aiming to finish Dricus Du Plessis in round 4: ‘I was like he is done’

Former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya claims Dricus du Plessis was there for the taking in the penultimate round…

Former two-time middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya claims Dricus du Plessis was there for the taking in the penultimate round of their UFC 305 title fight – before succumbing to his own submission loss against the South African star.

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, suffered a second consecutive defeat for the first time in his storied mixed martial arts career over the course of last weekend at UFC 305 in a return ‘Downunder’.

Dropping a fourth round submission loss to Pretoria native, du Plessis in his bid to become a three-time middleweight titleholder, Adesanya saw his back taken in the first of two championship rounds against the fence after finding himself on the receiving end of a lengthy barrage – before he was forced to tap after being wrapped in a rear-naked choke.

Israel Adesanya claims Dricus du Plessis was “done” at UFC 305

However, despite finding himself down on the judge’s scorecards even midway through the fourth frame, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya has now claimed du Plessis was “done” in the round – and ready for the taking.

Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya UFC 305 KISS

“He’s (Dricus du Plessis) tough, he’s stubborn that is what it is,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Even if he’s tired – which one was it – I sprawled on him, was it round four? Beginning of round four, I hit him with one of the meanest sprawls because he just shot and I just put his face into the mat, and boom.”

“I tried to kick his body and then told him to get up,” Israel Adesanya continued. “Marc (Goddard) was like ‘Get up’, and he laid there on the ground and took a breath, and I was like, ‘He is done.’ So I try to go for him.”

Dan Hooker wants to fight Conor McGregor just to troll Michael Chandler

Fresh from his impressive decision win over perennial contender, Mateusz Gamrot over the course of last weekend on the…

Fresh from his impressive decision win over perennial contender, Mateusz Gamrot over the course of last weekend on the main card of UFC 305, newly-minted number five ranked challenger, Dan Hooker wants to steal a fight with former two-weight best, Conor McGregor next – just to spite Michael Chandler.

Hooker, now in the midst of an impressive three-fight winning run, turned in a close, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) victory over Polish contender, Gamrot over the course of three rounds in Perth over the course of last weekend.

The win came as the Auckland striker’s third on the bounce, following a prior decision success over Jalin Turner, as well as a body kick knockout win over Claudio Puelles.

Dan Hooker sounds out potential “snake” fight with Conor McGregor

And weighing up a slew of fights next – including a title-eliminator against the surging, Arman Tsarukyan next, Dan Hooker has suggested he slide into a mega fight with former two-division best, McGregor – just to stick it to former foe, Chandler.

“I didn’t necessarily call him (Conor McGregor) out, I just said that because I am an absolute troll, so it’s like the biggest troll move you could do of all-time, is to snake that fight off (Michael) Chandler,” Dan Hooker told The Mac Life. “Like, he waits all that time and then Conor just fights me anyway, like, that would be gold. Like, I would feel like the biggest snake troll of all time. I’ll get my black belt in the troll Olympics.”

Fighting former three-time Bellator MMA lightweight kingpin, Chandler in the Missouri native’s Octagon debut back in 2021, Hooker dropped a spectacular opening round knockout loss to the veteran during their title-eliminator clash on ‘Fight Island’.

Also weighing up a potential matchup with former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira next, Hooker alluded to the fact the promotion have already sounded out a fight for him against the Hooker off the back of his UFC 305 success.

Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out

It has taken a long time for Dricus Du Plessis to get the respect that he believes he has always deserved, but his winning streak is becoming undeniable. With eight consecutive wins inside the Octagon, he has now beaten three former middleweight champions in his most recent outings. Finishing both Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, […]

Continue Reading Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out at MMA News.

It has taken a long time for Dricus Du Plessis to get the respect that he believes he has always deserved, but his winning streak is becoming undeniable.

With eight consecutive wins inside the Octagon, he has now beaten three former middleweight champions in his most recent outings.

Finishing both Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, along with going the distance against Sean Strickland, has shown how “Stillknocks” is very effective despite his style not being the most technically sound.

A rematch with Strickland makes a lot of sense for his next title defense given how close their first encounter was but there is also the potential for a huge fight against the champion at the weight class above, in the near future.

Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Agree That Dricus Du Plessis Poses A Threat To Alex Pereira

In order for Du Plessis to add yet another former middleweight champion to his record, he would need to face the current light heavyweight titleholder, Alex Pereira.

At least on paper, many will point to how Du Plessis does tend to fight recklessly at points, which makes a clash with “Poatan” so dangerous for him.

However, after watching what he was able to do against another elite striker in Adesanya this past weekend at UFC 305, Daniel Cormier spoke on the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA about his intrigue around that potential match-up:

“DDP already said Chael, ‘It doesn’t have to be at ’85, I’m not giving you no excuse. I’ll come to 205 and fight you.’ After watching him, I don’t know that he don’t do well against Alex because of his wrestling and his ability to strike.”

Cormier’s co-host Chael Sonnen agreed with him on this point, stating that we’re still learning what Du Plessis is capable of at this stage.

“Wrong guy to mess with, I mean in all fairness, whatever Alex is seeing in DDP, Alex should know that’s what we all saw in Alex two years ago. We did not understand how great he is.”

Continue Reading Alex Pereira Told Dricus Du Plessis Is The ‘Wrong Guy To Mess With’ After Post-UFC 305 Call-Out at MMA News.

Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’

Count Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall among those majorly impressed by Dricus Du Plessis’ performance Down Under this past weekend. Du Plessis made the walk at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, to put his middleweight gold on the line against the returning Israel Adesanya. The pair met in the UFC 305 main event, […]

Continue Reading Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ at MMA News.

Count Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall among those majorly impressed by Dricus Du Plessis’ performance Down Under this past weekend.

Du Plessis made the walk at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, to put his middleweight gold on the line against the returning Israel Adesanya. The pair met in the UFC 305 main event, following an undercard that included standout wins for the likes of Dan Hooker and Kai Kara-France.

“The Last Stylebender” couldn’t make it three wins from three for Auckland’s City Kickboxing gym, with his South African counterpart finding a submission in round four to emerge victorious from a competitive and enthralling headliner.

Having long been doubted owing to his unusual approach to fighting, Du Plessis has no doubt been enjoying his victory lap, laughing at those who spoke ill of his chances against Adesanya.

“Stillknocks” has been getting increased respect and praise from many after successfully defending his gold for the first time, and not many plaudits have come grander than those of the interim heavyweight champ…

Aspinall On Du Plessis’ UFC 305 Win: ‘Just Looked Fantastic Out There’

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Aspinall reacted to his promotion’s latest PPV event and the matchup that concluded it inside the RAC Arena.

Aspinall shared a common sentiment when it comes to deciphering what it is about Du Plessis that makes him so effective. Whatever it is, the heavyweight champ is impressed, so much so that he placed the South African among the most intelligent athletes currently competing on MMA’s biggest stage.

“DDP, you can’t count this guy out,” Aspinall said. “I watch fights as a fan, but I also watch fights as a fighter to try and pick up little nuances, and I love to study different styles. For me personally, DDP is a guy who I’m baffled by, in all honesty. I’m completely baffled by his style because you watch him and, to be brutally honest, he looks a little bit inferior to his opponents in terms of technique, but it’s amazing to watch because he obviously isn’t inferior.

“The gameplans that this guy and his coaches are doing are absolutely unbelievable. Me personally, I think he’s one of the smartest fighters in the UFC and his team must be very, very smart as well,” Aspinall continued. “The guy just finds a way to win. He’s extremely physically strong. … He looks a little bit messy, and I’m sure we all can agree on that. But he makes up for it in spirit, his will to win, and persistence. If he doesn’t get what he’s going for, he will keep going and grind his opponents down until he gets it. He just looked fantastic out there (at UFC 305).”

Like Aspinall, plenty have been confused by Du Plessis’ style and continued success, be it more fellow fighters, veteran analysts, or fans.

But the South African has evidently found an approach that works incredibly well for him, and having proved his detractors wrong yet again, perhaps questions surrounding his unorthodox strategies will die down as his title reign continues on its way.

Read More: 5 Positives & 3 Negatives From UFC 305: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

Continue Reading Tom Aspinall Has High Praise For Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305: ‘One Of The Smartest Fighters In The UFC’ at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’

Israel Adesanya recently shed light on his post-fight interaction following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. Adesanya’s bid to reclaim the middleweight title for a third time ended in heartbreak as he fell to a fourth-round submission against “Stillknocks” last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. Adesanya started the […]

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’ at MMA News.

Israel Adesanya recently shed light on his post-fight interaction following his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.

Adesanya’s bid to reclaim the middleweight title for a third time ended in heartbreak as he fell to a fourth-round submission against “Stillknocks” last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Adesanya started the bout with impressive precision, appearing to have the fight under control. However, Du Plessis dramatically altered the course of the contest in the championship round, landing a torrent of potent blows that left the former champion reeling. The South African expertly seized the opening to lock in a decisive rear-naked choke to conclude the bout.

Though the build-up to this fight was marked by a fierce exchange of verbal jabs, particularly revolving around the cultural clash narrative, Adesanya and Du Plessis left the animosity behind once they settled their differences in the Octagon.

After the fight concluded, the middleweight rivals were seen exchanging cordial words in the Octagon before the result was announced. “Stillknocks” promptly paid tribute to his opponent, hailing the Nigerian-born Kiwi as a “legend” and a future “Hall of Famer.” In turn, “The Last Stylebender” hinted at a potential future camaraderie with Du Plessis, even suggesting they might hang out as he spoke with UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier.

Adesanya On Du Plessis: ‘I Don’t Think He’s A Bad Person’

During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Adesanya opened up about the exchange he had with Du Plessis after their bout. “The Last Stylebender” revealed that their words were filled with mutual respect and that his perception of the South African fighter has since evolved.

“Oh, he just gave me a lot of props, a lot of love, a lot of respect,” Adesanya said. “I accepted it and I shook his hand. Then, after his interview, when we were leaving the cage, we just talked. He said ‘sorry,’ maybe—I can’t remember—but he just gave me a lot of props. He said, ‘Hey, you know, I’m a big fan,’ and of course, I was like, ‘I know.’ And I said, ‘Look, look how far we’ve come from way back then—who would have thought? Now we’re here.’ I was like, ‘f**k yeah,’ and then we hugged. I said, ‘Look, I respect you, I appreciate you.’ I don’t think DDP is a bad person. I don’t know him. Again, we’re not friends, we don’t know each other, but we can be cool—we’re cool, and I respect him.”

Adesanya further stressed that any lingering grudges against Du Plessis are now a thing of the past.

“It was never beef. Again, when I say beef, it’s just like you have to fight someone—you don’t have to like them. You don’t have to like them. Again, he didn’t like me, I didn’t like him, but I think now we have a healthy respect for each other. I won’t say we’re BFFs or we’re friends, but if I see him, it’s love. I’ll give him a hug, I’ll dap him up.”

The rivalry between Adesanya and Du Plessis had seen its ups and downs over the past year, starting when Adesanya held the title, and Du Plessis vowed to become the UFC’s first “true African champion.”

Read More: Dricus Du Plessis Embraces Israel Adesanya’s Parents Backstage At UFC 305: ‘You Have An Incredible Son’

Continue Reading Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Octagon Exchange With Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 305: ‘If I See Him, It’s Love’ at MMA News.

Alex Pereira branded ‘Biggest chicken in the UFC’ for calling out Dricus du Plessis

Undisputed light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira has received more flak for his call out of current middleweight titleholder, Dricus…

Undisputed light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira has received more flak for his call out of current middleweight titleholder, Dricus du Plessis following UFC 305 over the course of the weekend – by his arch-nemesis, Magomed Ankalaev.

Pereira, the current undisputed light heavyweight gold holder, most recently turned in the second successful defense of his divisional crown at UFC 303 at the end of June, laying waste to former champion, Jiri Prochazka with a blistering second round high-kick knockout win.

And booked to make his comeback for a third time this year to boot, Sao Paulo finishing star, Alex Pereira is set to take main event honors at UFC 307 in October, taking on the surging challenger, Khalil Rountree – for which he has already been criticized for.

Daniel Cormier Slams UFC: Why Pereira vs. Ankalaev Fight Was Shelved

However, following the culmination of UFC 305 over the course of last weekend, in which du Plessis submitted common-opponent, Israel Adesanya with a stunning rear-naked choke success – Pereira boldly vowed to return to middleweight to take him on for gold.

Alex Pereira labelled “chicken” by Magomed Ankalaev after UFC 305

Reacting to the Brazilian’s calls, the above-mentioned Ankalaev has blasted Pereira for doing so – labelling him a “chicken” – in fact, the biggest of such currently on the UFC’s books.

“Alex Pereira [is the] biggest chicken in the UFC,” Magomed Ankalaev posted on his official X account. “He call (sic) out guys middleweight he 40 pounds more than them. I am the only guy he doesn’t even mention my name I promise I’m gonna handle my business in October and I’m gonna knock you out under 2 rounds.”

Himself slated to return just two weeks after Pereira’s comeback, Russian contender, Ankalaev most is controversially set to challenge fellow European star, Aleksandar Rakic in a potential title-eliminator on the main card of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, UAE at the end of the same month.