Dricus Du Plessis is currently riding on a 5-fight win streak, with chances of fighting for the UFC middleweight gold soon. In less than 3 years of being with the Las Vegas-based promotion, the 29-year-old has already made quite a few enemies in the business. Out of all the adversaries, the most notable one is Israel Adesanya.
‘Stillknocks‘ has become the talk of the town in the last while. About a week ago, Dricus revealed a nose surgery he underwent. Aside from this, he’d made some controversial statements that have now enraged Israel Adesanya, the current middleweight titleholder.
The 33-year-old also garnered enough controversy for his post-fight antics at UFC 287. Recently, he took to his YouTube channel to speak about his title win and what’s next.
While the UFC brass hasn’t announced Adesanya’s next fight, the Nigerian-born Kiwi has already locked onto his next target in Dricus. Israel went off on Du Plessis for his remarks about Israel not bringing the belt to Africa, but rather to New Zealand.
“I’ve never questioned him as an African, because yeah, you were born in Africa. South Africa. Of course, you’re an African. I have never questioned that,” said Israel. “But who the f**k is this cracker to tell me who the f**k I am? Who the f**k Kamaru is, who the f**k Ngannou is? I’m like, ‘Are you dumb?’ As a product of colonization, you’re trying to tell me who the f**k I am.”
“But the fact that as a f**king cracker, to tell me who the f**k I am, that pi**ed me off, and that’s why he’s my next fight because I don’t want to fight anyone else. This one pi**es me off. So yeah, he’s next. and I’m gonna f**king beat him till he’s black.” concluded Israel.
Dricus Du Plessis had questioned former UFC champions about being African
In early March, Du Plessis launched a shocking outburst toward Israel, Francis Ngannou, and Kamaru Usman, who’d all lost their titles at the time. He discredited the above-mentioned athletes of being African and insisted that he will be the first to take a UFC belt to Africa. This has since drawn mixed reactions from fans and critics alike.
The UFC has teased the concept of holding a mega event in Africa for a while, and Du Plessis believes he will bring more legitimacy as a future South African champion than his predecessors.
During a media scrum before his bout with Derek Brunson, the 29-year-old took a jibe at Israel, Kamaru, and Francis. He said, “Did those belts ever go to Africa? As far as I know, they came to America and New Zealand. I’m going to take a belt to Africa.”
Dricus du Plessis: “I’m the African fighter. Me and Cameron. WE breathe African air, WE wake up in Africa every day. ” pic.twitter.com/7xWfyfhvem
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) March 1, 2023
“I’m the African fighting in the UFC. Myself and Cameron [Saaiman, Dricus’ teammate], we breathe African air. We wake up in Africa every day. We train in Africa, we’re Africa born, we’re Africa raised, we still reside in Africa, we train out of Africa. That’s an African champion, and that’s who I’ll be,” continued Dricus.
Unfortunately for ‘The Last Stylebender,’ he will have to wait until July before he can lock horns with his new adversary on the rise. Former champion Robert Whittaker is standing in the duo’s way as the Australian is scheduled to face Dricus at UFC 290.