Dricus Du Plessis is fully committed to his mission of unseating Israel Adesanya as the ultimate victor.
A brewing rivalry is evident in the UFC middleweight category, between the reigning double champion and South Africa’s leading contender. While Adesanya acknowledges Du Plessis’s potential following his remarks, Du Plessis aims to prove himself through his actions. His next opportunity to demonstrate this will be against ex-champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in Las Vegas the coming weekend.
Though Du Plessis and Adesanya have not yet faced each other professionally in MMA, they’re no strangers to one another. Adesanya divulged on IMPAULSIVE earlier this month that he and Du Plessis had sparred in Thailand, with each experiencing varied success.
“I was in China doing kickboxing,” revealed Adesanya. “I’d already ventured into MMA, but my skills were rudimentary at best. In sparring, he had the upper hand in grappling, but I held my own in striking.”
However, Du Plessis was quick to correct some details of Adesanya’s account, which seemed skewed in the latter’s favor.
“We did train together in Thailand,” confirmed Du Plessis to The Schmo. “I was 19 then, with a 3-0 record while Adesanya had more experience in MMA. His assertion that I bested him in grappling is spot on. But contrary to his claim, we never engaged in any round of striking. He likely resorted to that excuse to salvage his pride.”
A victory over Whittaker would extend Du Plessis’s (19-2) winning streak to eight, six of those within the UFC. UFC President Dana White has already indicated that a title shot awaits the winner. Du Plessis and Adesanya have expressed their desire to face each other since the former’s comments prior to UFC 285 about being an African champion. Their dispute remains unsettled, with the only common ground being their eagerness to settle scores in the octagon.
UFC 293 in September will see the return of the promotion to Australia, where it’s expected that Adesanya will defend his title against the UFC 290 victor. However, Du Plessis seems eager to settle it all at once, especially after hearing Adesanya express his desire for an upset against “The Reaper.”
“Let him wait his turn. He’s the one who called me out, not the other way round. I’ll fight him when the time comes, because I earned it,” said Du Plessis. “I’m looking forward to seeing if he’s up for it when the moment arrives.”
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Fight Announcements:
Edgar Cháirez vs. Tatsuro Taira; UFC 290, July 8
Jafel Filho vs. Daniel Barez; UFC London, July 22
Enrique Barzola vs. Jaylon Bates; Bellator 298, Aug. 11
Concluding Thoughts:
One can’t help but wonder why UFC didn’t schedule Adesanya vs. Du Plessis next. If he defeats Whittaker, they’ll look genius, but if he doesn’t, it’s a completely different story.
Thank you for reading!
Exit Poll:
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Sean Strickland
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dricus Du Plessis
What is the background between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya?
Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya have a history that dates back to a sparring session they had in Thailand. While Du Plessis dominated Adesanya in grappling, they never engaged in any striking exchanges.
Who is Dricus Du Plessis fighting next?
Dricus Du Plessis is set to fight Robert Whittaker at UFC 290.
Is Dricus Du Plessis aiming for a title shot?
Yes, Dricus Du Plessis is determined to earn a title shot in the UFC middleweight division. UFC President Dana White has already mentioned that a title shot awaits the winner of the Du Plessis vs. Whittaker fight.
When might we see a fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya?
There is a possibility of a future fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. While UFC 293 in September is being considered for Adesanya’s title defense, Du Plessis is open to fighting him whenever the opportunity arises.
How does Dricus Du Plessis view his chances against Israel Adesanya?
Dricus Du Plessis is confident in his abilities and believes he is the best fighter. He welcomes the challenge of facing Adesanya and is ready to prove himself against him whenever the time comes.
More about Dricus Du Plessis
- UFC 290: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Robert Whittaker
- Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC Fighter Profile
- Israel Adesanya’s UFC Fighter Profile
- UFC Middleweight Division
- Dana White’s Statement on Title Shot for Du Plessis vs. Whittaker Winner
- UFC 293: Potential Title Defense for Israel Adesanya
3 comments
OMG, did you hear about their sparring session in thailand? adesanya got manhandld in grappling hahaha!! dricus du plessis is a beast!! can’t wait for their fight!!
man these two have a beef i love it!!! dricus du plessis is gonna take isreal adesanya down no doubt!! ufc 290 is gonna be lit!!
i hope dricus du plessis wins against robert whittaker and gets his shot at adesanya!! that’s gonna be an epic battle!! ufc needs more rivalries like this!!