Tag: UFC 305

Dricus Du Plessis Kicks Steve Erceg When He’s Down After UFC 305 Loss For Labeling Him A ‘6/10 Fighter’

Dricus Du Plessis has always had his fair share of critics during his UFC run, despite being undefeated inside the Octagon. During his climb up the middleweight ladder, many were critical of his ability to fight at a constant pace over three rounds due to him becoming visibly tired in some of his earlier fights. […]

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Dricus Du Plessis has always had his fair share of critics during his UFC run, despite being undefeated inside the Octagon.

During his climb up the middleweight ladder, many were critical of his ability to fight at a constant pace over three rounds due to him becoming visibly tired in some of his earlier fights.

Even since there has been an improvement from “Stillknocks” in this area, there is often conversation about his unorthodox, and at times reckless-appearing approach which lacks finesse – but has been incredibly effective for him.

This was case and point in the main event of UFC 305 this past weekend where he was able to walk down and catch Israel Adesanya with big looping punches to hurt him and find the submission win in the fourth round.

Unfortunately for those that don’t rate the champion’s technique, he has been keeping receipts.

Dricus Du Plessis Reminds Steve Erceg Of His Criticism After UFC 305

After successfully defending the middleweight title for the first time, Du Plessis made sure to circle back to a few people who had doubted him or talked down on his ability during fight week.

There are clear elements of his game that you wouldn’t necessarily teach a young fighter but the champ knows how to make it work for him.

One of the criticisms that clearly he took notice of was Steve Erceg labelling him as a 6/10 overall fighter due to some of his more unpredictable tendencies.

Erceg was stopped in front of his home fans in Perth this past weekend with Kai Kara-France securing a massive first-round win in the co-main event.

Via his Instagram story, Du Plessis took a moment to remind the former flyweight title challenger of what he had said after they ended up on opposite sides of the win column on August 17.

MMA fans reacted to the champion getting the last word in via social media.

“Dude has all the receipts. He’s coming for everyone.”

“this guy is against the whole world right now”

“Tbf erceg gave himself a 7, it seems like he just has a really high bar”

“If everyone doubted me like how they did I’d come back for everyone too”

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

Continue Reading Dricus Du Plessis Kicks Steve Erceg When He’s Down After UFC 305 Loss For Labeling Him A ‘6/10 Fighter’ at MMA News.

Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anyway…’

Dan Hooker delivered one of the stand out performances at UFC 305 to ascend up the lightweight division by beating Mateusz Gamrot. It’s been some time since “The Hangman” was in the mix at the top of the 155-pound weight class but that is certainly the case after he pulled off the underdog win over […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anyway…’ at MMA News.

Dan Hooker delivered one of the stand out performances at UFC 305 to ascend up the lightweight division by beating Mateusz Gamrot.

It’s been some time since “The Hangman” was in the mix at the top of the 155-pound weight class but that is certainly the case after he pulled off the underdog win over one of the top contenders.

In his post-fight interview following the Fight of the Night clash, Hooker spoke about the number of exciting options that he now wants to chase down after this win.

Part of his declaration to the matchmakers sitting cage side included Conor McGregor, which took some by surprise.

“Look at me now! I want them all brother! I want the BMF, I want Conor McGregor, I want a title eliminator, I want everything brother! I want it all Sean, I want it all Hunter!”

Dan Hooker Explains “Troll” Motivation Behind Conor McGregor Call Out

In a post-fight interview with TheMacLife, Hooker explained why he chose to mention McGregor’s name inside the Octagon after getting his hand raised.

Of course, McGregor is still the biggest fight out there across the entire sport, let alone the lightweight division, which means he often gets called out and has done for nearly a decade.

Hooker’s call to namedrop “The Notorious” wasn’t necessarily financially motivated, though that is a huge incentive for trying to get this fight.

He said that this decision was made more because he thinks it would be hilarious to get this fight instead of McGregor being welcomed back to the UFC by Michael Chandler, which fans have waited so long to see at this point.

Hooker was defeated by Chandler back when “Iron” Mike made his UFC debut in 2021 so taking the biggest fight of his career away from him would be sweet revenge.

“I didn’t necessarily call him out, I just said like, because I am absolute troll, so it’s like the biggest troll move you could do of all time is to snake that fight off Chandler. Like he waits all that time and then Conor just fights me anyway, like that would be gold. I would feel like the biggest snake troll of all time.”

Read also: Darren Till Bemoans Negative Reaction To His UFC 305 Advice For Israel Adesanya: ‘You Just Have To Love The Internet’

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Admits McGregor Callout Intended To ‘Snake’ Michael Chandler: ‘He Waits All That Time & Conor Fights Me Anyway…’ at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley Talks UFC 305 Main Event, ‘Coin Flip’ Prediction For Du Plessis’ Next Fight

Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight title at UFC 305 by submitting former champion Israel Adesanya in a back-and-forth encounter. Though he was able to secure the tap in the fourth round, it was the striking from “Stillknocks” that led to the finish. His unorthodox and sometimes reckless approach to moving through ranges whilst looking […]

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Talks UFC 305 Main Event, ‘Coin Flip’ Prediction For Du Plessis’ Next Fight at MMA News.

Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight title at UFC 305 by submitting former champion Israel Adesanya in a back-and-forth encounter.

Though he was able to secure the tap in the fourth round, it was the striking from “Stillknocks” that led to the finish.

His unorthodox and sometimes reckless approach to moving through ranges whilst looking to land big punches found a home and hurt “The Last Stylebender” which was the beginning of the end.

On his YouTube channel, bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley gave his immediate reaction to the main event where he highlighted Du Plessis’ blitz assault and gave props to both men.

“DDP has some funny a** like blitzes that just looks so sloppy and weird but he connects somehow and they’re heavy f****** punches and Izzy did look good. He looked like he was in good shape, defended that good takedown a few times. Like he said, he made a few small little mistakes. I mean I thought he was winning a decision, close fight. DDP showed why he’s the champ.”

Sean O’Malley Believes Dricus Du Plessis vs Sean Strickland 2 Will Be Another Close Fight

In the aftermath of this past weekend’s event in Perth, it appears that the next time Du Plessis will be back inside the Octagon will be for his first rematch in the UFC.

The South African champion won the title by defeating Sean Strickland earlier this year in a split decision, that the American passionately believes he should have gotten.

O’Malley gave his thoughts on that fight having already seen how difficult it was to separate them at UFC 297.

“Sean Strickland is fighting the winner, we already knew that. DDP versus Sean Strickland 2, the first fight was very, very, very close, could have gave it to Sean Strickland. He was the champion at the time and I feel like if you’re going to beat the champ in a split decision, it’s got to be more dominant than that so that was a very, very close fight, that’s going to be a fun one to run back.”

“Suga” went on to say that he believes this particular match-up is won or lost by who performs better on that night due to their styles.

“I think those guys can fight 10 times, it’s a coin flip every time. I don’t think it’s going to be f****** one guy is going to dominate. Those two styles are just going to be whoever shows up better on that night.”

Read also: Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley Talks UFC 305 Main Event, ‘Coin Flip’ Prediction For Du Plessis’ Next Fight at MMA News.

Tai Tuivasa Releases First Statement On Fifth Straight Loss At UFC 305: ‘F*ck. What A Sport’

Things didn’t go to plan for heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa at UFC 305, as his lengthy losing skid got further extended by Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Since rising to a career high #3 in the rankings when a knockout of Derrick Lewis put him on a five-fight winning run, fan favorite Tuivasa has experienced nothing but defeat […]

Continue Reading Tai Tuivasa Releases First Statement On Fifth Straight Loss At UFC 305: ‘F*ck. What A Sport’ at MMA News.

Things didn’t go to plan for heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa at UFC 305, as his lengthy losing skid got further extended by Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Since rising to a career high #3 in the rankings when a knockout of Derrick Lewis put him on a five-fight winning run, fan favorite Tuivasa has experienced nothing but defeat inside the Octagon.

This year began with “Bam Bam” suffering a fourth straight loss, with Marcin Tybura adding to the woes of the Australian’s setbacks opposite Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov.

And at this past weekend’s pay-per-view in Perth, Australia, it was the turn of Rozenstruik to get in on the action. “Bigi Boy” followed up on his headline win over Shamil Gaziev earlier in 2024 by comfortably outpointing Tuivasa in enemy territory.

Tuivasa On UFC 305 Setback: ‘We Live To Fight Another Day’

Following his latest defeat, Tuivasa soon took to social media with his first comments.

In a post on Instagram, “Bam Bam” acknowledged the effort he put into camp and expressed understandable disappointing at failing to have his hand raised in front of his home fans Down Under.

Nevertheless, the Aussie won’t be kept down, with the 31-year-old telling his fans that he “lives to fight another day.”

“Fuck. What a sport,” Tuivasa wrote. “I put my all into this camp and didn’t come away with the win. Big love to all my fans I put my all into this didn’t get the treats. My bad ? love you all the real ones ? Live to fight another day. AUSSIE FANS I LOVE YOU C**TS BEST IN THE BIZZO ?? We live to fight another day ?” 

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Tuivasa. He had previously outlined his intention to return for a third fight this year following UFC 305. Whether or not that plan remains after Saturday’s loss is unclear.

Continue Reading Tai Tuivasa Releases First Statement On Fifth Straight Loss At UFC 305: ‘F*ck. What A Sport’ at MMA News.

Dricus Du Plessis Tells Alex Pereira to Stay at 205, Aiming for Two-Division Gold

Dricus Du Plessis Alex PereiraDricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title at UFC 305 and was called out by the UFC’s light…

Dricus Du Plessis Alex Pereira

Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title at UFC 305 and was called out by the UFC’s light heavyweight champion just moments later.

The war between Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya was very competitive. Du Plessis struggled to take down ‘The Last Stylebender’ and even took some brutal shots in round three. However, ultimately, the tides of war would change, and Du Plessis wobbled Adesanya in round four on his way to a submission victory.

After the fight, Alex Pereira posted a picture of himself sitting next to his TV that showed a victorious DDP raising his arms, with the middleweight title wrapped around his waist. “Coming down to 185 one more time,” read Pereira’s caption.

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Alex Pereira’s callout of Dricus Du Plessis on Instagram

Dricus Du Plessis scoffs at Alex Pereira’s callout

“I honestly don’t think Alex Pereira should drop down to 185,” Du Plessis said at the UFC 305 post-fight press conference (H/T MMA Fighting). “If he wants to, great, perfect. But then we’re going to hear the excuses. I saw Izzy stiff that man in the first round. I felt Izzy’s punching power tonight. Izzy has great timing, he’s fast, he’s long and he has great combinations, but I felt the power.

“If Izzy stiffens you like that, you do not want to be in there with me, especially not when you’ve got to come in there with the excuses, ‘Oh, I cut too much weight.’ That’s going to happen. Everybody’s going to say it.”

“Stay at 205, fight your fight against the No. 8 ranked guy,” Dricus Du Plessis said, speaking on Pereira’s upcoming fight against Rountree. “Fight your fight there and enjoy it. If Strickland is the next fight, the people want to see that fight — if that’s the fight that people want to see and that’s the fight right now people think is the next best guy, then it’s the fight that I want. So let me handle my business, you handle your business.”

‘I’m Not F***ing Leaving’ Israel Adesanya Not Looking to Retire Despite Loss

Israel AdesanyaIsrael Adesanya was adamant about the future after losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, maintaining that this…

Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya was adamant about the future after losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, maintaining that this would not be the end for him.

The battle was very even in the first few rounds. Eventually, Adesanya looked to be edging out a lead with the aid of some spectacular body shots in the third round. However, Du Plessis wasn’t about to give up, and he wobbled ‘The Last Stylebender’ in the fourth round, which led to him securing a takedown and later on the submission victory over Adesanya.

At 35 years of age and coming off back-to-back losses, Adesanya could easily step away from the sport. According to his account, that’s not what he intends to do, though. He didn’t even seem in very bad spirits after the fight and held a rather optimistic outlook.

Israel Adesanya makes it clear that his MMA career isn’t over

“…I’m disappointed in myself but at the same time proud,” Israel Adesanya told Daniel Cormier during his post-fight interview in the octagon. “Cuz this is the best I’ve ever felt. This is the best I’ve ever looked. And I just had the better man on the night, so I give him respect for that.”

Cormier pointed out that this fight would be Adesanya’s 12th consecutive title fight and asked him what he intended to do next. Israel Adesanya didn’t hesitate to be upfront with his answer and maintained that he intended to go absolutely nowhere. “I’m not f***ing leaving!” Adesanya would exclaim, the crowd roaring in approval.

Now, on a bit of a skid, it is unclear when Adesanya wishes to return to MMA action. At his age, it will undoubtedly take an extraordinary fight to motivate him to return. Who knows what the UFC’s Middleweight title landscape will look like when he does?

Do you think Dricus Du Plessis has what it takes to go on a memorable title reign?