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Dricus Du Plessis, the No. 1 UFC middleweight contender, has dismissed his post-UFC 290 confrontation with reigning champion Israel Adesanya as the latter's clownish behavior. The heated exchange occurred after Du Plessis' victory over former champion Robert Whittaker.
Adesanya stepped into the octagon following Du Plessis' win and unleashed a series of expletives, lending an ugly, racial undertone to the potential upcoming fight. Du Plessis, however, remained unfazed by the confrontation, stating at the post-fight press conference, "He's behaving like a clown in there. That's not how a champion behaves. That’s not at all how a man behaves. He’s behaving like a child."
Du Plessis has been vocal about his African residency, contrasting it with Adesanya's residence in New Zealand. He stated, "that’s an African champion, and that’s who I’ll be." This statement has been a point of contention between the two fighters, with Adesanya taking offense and targeting a showdown at UFC 293 in Sydney on Sept. 10.
Adesanya has since escalated the rhetoric, mocking Du Plessis and questioning his African heritage. Despite this, Du Plessis remains confident, stating, "He knows I’m the champion, and now that he’s seen me in that cage, he knows what a force I am in there."
The two fighters share a brief history, having sparred together in Thailand early in their careers. Adesanya has acknowledged Du Plessis' superior grappling skills, while Du Plessis is confident in his striking abilities, as demonstrated in his knockout of Whittaker. He believes that if a fight with Adesanya goes to the ground, he will have the upper hand.
Du Plessis concluded, "I’ll knock him out just like I did tonight. If I get him to the floor, it is not even a fight. I will manhandle him. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again."
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