Adesanya Thought Du Plessis ‘Was Done’
Israel Adesanya has looked back at his loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.
Du Plessis won a fourth-round submission in a successful defense of his UFC Middleweight Title in an upset win. The submission came just as Adesanya appeared to turn the tide in the third round. However, Du Plessis landed some big right hands before doing a takedown to make Izzy tap. That was Adesanya’s second defeat in a row after losing to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
This is the first time he has suffered consecutive losses in the UFC. In his post-fight comments, Adesanya refused to retire, saying he is not going anywhere. Meanwhile, Du Plessis will likely rematch Strickland after Dana White said the winner would face him next.
Du Plessis may also have the option to fight Alex Pereira, who suggested he wants to come down to 185 to fight for the title. However, Du Plessis has indicated his preference for moving up to face him. While the loss has damaged Adesanya’s brand, he felt his opponent was finished before the stoppage.
Adesanya On Du Plessis
“He’s tough, he’s stubborn that is what it is. Even if he’s tired, which one was it, I sprawled on him, was it round four? Beginning of round four, I hit him with one of the meanest sprawls because he just shot and I just put his face into the mat, and boom. I tried to kick his body and then told him to get up. Marc (Goddard) was like get up, and he laid there on the ground and took a breath, and I was like he is done, so I try to go for him.
“Even at that moment, he swang at me, so I was like… that stopped my momentum right there. He’s stubborn, most guys wouldn’t be able to do that while they are tired. He’s going to throw anyway because he needs to stop their momentum, he’s just going to throw anyway. At least it stops me in my tracks, so I have to reset and have to come again and it gives him a little bit of breathing space for a second or two,” Adesanya said
Adesanya’s Future
Adesanya faces a tough road ahead. He had been in 12 title fights in a row but had lost to Strickland and Du Plessis. He will now have to earn his stripes and potentially take on lesser-known opponents to regain his standing. Numerous other middleweights present a danger. Rob Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev are ahead of Adesanya regarding a title shot.
Whittaker stopped KO artist Ikram Aliskerov in the first round at UFC Saudi Arabia in his last bout. The win was impressive since Aliskerov is a KO artist. Whittaker will now face Chimaev, who is unbeaten at middleweight at UFC 308. Daniel Cormier felt it was a long way back for Adesanya.
“You know he had fought 12 straight title fights. He has now lost two title fights in a row – one to Strickland, one to Du Plessis. How long will it take him to earn his way back to another championship opportunity? This weight class is on fire, though,” Cormier stated
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