Du Plessis Accuses Adesanya Of Stirring Racial Tensions

Dricus Du Plessis has accused Israel Adesanya of stirring racial tensions ahead of their UFC 305 fight on August 17.

The fight takes place in Perth, Australia, as Du Plessis makes the first defense of his belt. The South African won the belt after beating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in a controversial split decision win. Adesanya was on course to fight Du Plessis after the South African beat Robert Whittaker at UFC 290.

Du Plessis and Adesanya stared down each other in the octagon. Adesanya issued a racial slur after Du Plessis previously stated that he would be the first African to win the belts. That comment was seen as a dig against Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria but lives in New Zealand.

Du Plessis On Adesanya

The fight never happened after that, as Izzy lost his title to Strickland at UFC 293. Adesanya took some time off, saying he no longer wanted to fight for belts. But now that he has agreed to this fight, Du Plessis wanted to end those doubts. 

“I honestly do not think [the racial overtones] came from the fact that I talked about being the African fighter. [And] I think those comments, and they were very just, after that staredown came from the words [Adesanya] screamed over the mic. I think that’s where that came from. Those were the racial overtones, it had absolutely nothing with my comments.

“Am I the first residing, African champion? Absolutely, that was fact…I can’t even understand how [race] became a part of the discussion, it makes zero sense. So yes, that question [about the racial overtones] was just, but it was all from his side and he didn’t conduct himself in a manner that not only a champion, but anybody, should put in front of the rest of the world,” Du Plessis said 

Du Plessis On Islam

Elsewhere in the middleweight division, Du Plessis has warned UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev from moving up to the weight class. Islam defeated Dustin Poirier in his last fight, making it the third successful defense of his title. After his win, he hinted at a move up to welterweight to face Leon Edwards.

But Edwards lost to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304. Since Belal and Islam are on good terms, he ruled out that fight. Islam could consider a move up to middleweight. That could impact his grappling and striking, which have been central to his success. Islam’s coach, Javier Mendez, has hinted at the idea. 

“Maybe Islam gains weight and goes 185. I mean, he’d have to gain weight, obviously, because that’s a little big for him. You never know. He’s that good. Pound-for-pound No. 1 for a reason,” Mendez

But Du Plessis issued him with a warning. The South African was particularly vocal about the amount of weight Islam would have to gain. 

“I mean what can I say? Everybody can dream right, I always say never cap your dreams, dream big, but he’s dreaming real big. I’m very big,” Du Plessis stated 

Comments

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.