UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya expressed his desire to “whoop” Dricus Du Plessis in response to Du Plessis’ recent comments about being more authentic African than Adesanya and the “Three Kings.”
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya didn’t hold back at the post-UFC 287 press conference when addressing recent comments made by fellow middleweight Dricus Du Plessis. Although Adesanya did not explicitly mention Du Plessis’s name, it was clear he was addressing the South African native’s statements. Du Plessis had claimed that he was a more authentic African than Israelis Adesanya and the “Three Kings,” which include Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman.
One-time training partner of Du Plessis, Kamaru Usman advised Du Plessis to “be a little bit more careful” with his words involving ethnicity. Adesanya, visibly frustrated at the post-fight podium, seemed keen to show Du Plessis who’s boss. “I don’t wanna give this n**** clout… I wanna whoop his ass so bad,” Adesanya said. He went on to express his desire to fight Du Plessis in South Africa or Nigeria, but emphasized that Du Plessis needed to prove himself first: “he’s got to do work, he’s got to do something, show me something, so I can whoop that ass and I can show you history.”
Meanwhile, Du Plessis has recently won his fifth straight victory at UFC 285 and called for a title eliminator or a title shot in his next bout. UFC President Dana White has revealed plans for an event in Africa, but the promotion failed to capitalize on the reign of Adesanya, Ngannou, and Usman, who no longer hold titles within the organization. Representing his native Nigeria and residing in New Zealand, Adesanya has avoided specifying his next opponent, but Du Plessis’s recent comments have set the stage for a potential clash.
Du Plessis responded to Adesanya’s remarks on Monday: “So you won’t say my name, that’s smart you better not… I don’t need your airtime at all, I have my whole continent of AFRICA behind me. Go enjoy your very spectacular victory at home in New Zealand. UFC Africa is far from being done at least another year, I’ll meet you on neutral ground this year and if you still feel so strongly after facing me and I take your belt home I’ll give you another chance to come and try face me on MY HOME soil of Africa. We are Africa we fear nothing and certainly nobody.”