Dricus Du Plessis stands out as the UFC middleweight title holder, however it seems like he’s presently in a holding sample because the UFC waits for his or her former 185 pound champ to come back again and struggle.
Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis is the apparent struggle to make subsequent, however issues are difficult by Adesanya’s present go away of absence from competitors. There was speak that the struggle may happen in Perth, Australia for August. However nothing is official but.
In a brand new interview on YouTube, “Stillknocks” gave an replace on the “Stylebender” struggle and even paid his rival some compliments within the course of.
“I do know what the individuals wanna see, and I’m going and do it,” Du Plessis mentioned. “And preventing Israel Adesanya is by far the struggle that everyone desires to see. There’s a number of historical past there. There’s animosity there. I don’t see why we’re not preventing. Nicely, I imply, I perceive why we’re not in South Africa in the meanwhile, though that will have been nice, however Adesanya doesn’t have a number of years within the sport left. Two years if that a lot.”
“What he’s performed within the sport is spectacular, it’s superb,” he added. “And as an athlete, when you don’t respect Israel, you’re a moron. As an individual, you possibly can have your opinions, which I do. However in relation to what he’s performed within the sport, he’s nothing in need of spectacular. He’s he’s an unimaginable fighter, and preventing him is goes to cement my legacy. It’s gonna be it’s gonna be one thing it’s gonna be one other feather within the cap, ?”
“Beating a man like Robert Whittaker, changing into a world champion, after which beating one of many greats like Israel Adesanya? How are you not motivated by that? I’ve seen Adesanya as my even after I wasn’t within the UFC. I’ve seen him because the man that I have to beat to develop into one of the best. He set the bar. I imply, lengthy earlier than I used to be within the UFC, he was the champion, and he set the bar of what it is advisable be to be a champion.”
I’ve agreed to the opponent and site so what are we ready for ?
— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) Might 20, 2024
Du Plessis additionally commented on Sean Strickland, the fighter he took the belt off of to develop into champion. They’d an in depth struggle at UFC 297 in January, and there was some speak of a rematch if Adesanya wasn’t able to return.
“To be fairly sincere with you, I’d have been very proud of [the Strickland] struggle,” Dricus mentioned. “I’d have liked that struggle. It might have been lots simpler, when you ask me, as a result of I’ve been in there full pace with him and I felt what he can do, and I felt the errors that I made. We didn’t name it errors. I’ll simply put my foot on the fuel faster, after which I believe I’ll get him out of there.”
“However that that’s not what the UFC wished. I used to be completely satisfied to do it. Very completely satisfied. I’ve no downside with that in any way. Give me [Strickland], excellent. Give me Adesanya, excellent. They usually went with Adesanya. Cool. And that’s it. That’s thrilling. I’m completely satisfied both method.”
Du Plessis additionally confirmed his roadmap to potential double champion standing: defeat Israel Adesanya, defeat Khamzat Chimaev, after which struggle Alex Pereira for the 205 pound strap.
“If Khamzat beats Whittaker, beating Khamzat? That earns you a spot at mild heavyweight,” he mentioned. “If you happen to have a look at the the greats, the boogeyman, all people appears to be afraid of Khamzat. I’d love that struggle.”
“However like I mentioned, I’ve no downside defending my belt a number of instances earlier than that. For now, my focus is 100% on the middleweight division and my subsequent struggle, which in all probability can be Israel Adesanya. And that’s the place all my focus is. Not one of the different plans can come collectively with out this.”
