Israel Adesanya congratulated Dricus du Plessis on becoming the new UFC middleweight champion, but maintained that they still have a score to settle, hinting at a future fight between them.
Israel Adesanya? Yeah, he’s got a soft spot for Dricus du Plessis. But don’t get it twisted. He’s still got his eyes locked on that UFC middleweight champion title.
Dricus du Plessis? He snagged that title just last Saturday. It all went down at UFC 297 in Toronto. A narrow split decision over Sean Strickland? That’s what sealed the deal.
The fight? It was a nail-biter. Back and forth, keeping the Scotiabank Arena crowd on their toes. And Adesanya? He was tuned in, watching every move from his couch.
Adesanya shared his thoughts on YouTube. He thought du Plessis had the edge. He also hinted at an unsettled score between them.
Adesanya’s take on the main event? “It was nice to watch,” he said. He expected Dricus to rely more on his wrestling skills. But Dricus played it smart, saving his best moves for the end. Adesanya’s guess? Rounds 3, 4, 5 went to Dricus. And now? Dricus is the fourth African UFC champ. “Congrats to you, my African brother Dricus du Plessis,” Adesanya said.
Adesanya’s feelings for Dricus? They’re mixed. “Legit, I’m happy for him. I actually like his story,” Adesanya admitted. But there’s still that thing Dricus did. And Adesanya? He’s ready to “test that ass.”
The rivalry between Adesanya and du Plessis? It’s been brewing for a while. It started when Adesanya was still the UFC middleweight champ. Du Plessis, a South African, got under Adesanya’s skin. He claimed to be more authentic than Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria but lives in New Zealand.
After du Plessis’ win at UFC 297, Adesanya took to social media. He said they’re ‘destined’ to fight.
Adesanya? He lost his title to Strickland at UFC 293 last September. In a video, Adesanya and his buddies can be seen laughing at the expense of the now-former champ.