Israel Adesanya teases fight in Nigeria or South Africa

Israel Adesanya had harsh words for South African contender Dricus Du Plessis

UFC Israel Adesanya teases fight in Nigeria or South Africa

Tosin Abayomi 10:25 - 11.04.2023

Israel Adesanya wants to destroy Dricus Du Plessis in Nigeria or South Africa.

New Zealand professional mixed martial artist of Nigerian descent Israel Mobolaji Adesanya has set his sights on a fight in Africa.

Adesanya defeated Brazilian professional mixed martial artist Alexsandro Pereira in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 287 main event.

It was redemption for Adesanya as Pereira won by unanimous decision in their first kickboxing encounter back in 2016.

Pereira produced a knockout against Adesanya in their second kickboxing match in 2017.

Pereira dethroned Adesanya to claim the UFC Middleweight title in their debut UFC meeting last November.

The Nigerian flag was on display as Israel Adesanya reclaimed the UFC Middleweight title from Alex Pereira
The Nigerian flag was on display as Israel Adesanya reclaimed the UFC Middleweight title from Alex Pereira

After reclaiming the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight title, Adesanya is looking forward to a fight on the African continent in the future.

Israel Adesanya to fight Dricus Du Plessis in Nigeria or South Africa

Adesanya was elated at the press conference following a massive victory in Miami.

He however had harsh words for South African contender Dricus Du Plessis who earlier questioned his authenticity as an African.

Despite the fact that Adesanya did not specifically mention Du Plessis during the press conference, it was extremely evident who he was talking about.

Adesanya, Usman and Ngannou were once UFC champions
Adesanya, Usman and Ngannou were once UFC champions

Du Plessis, a middleweight in the UFC, claimed to be a more true African than Adesanya and the "Three Kings," Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman.

He said, “I don’t wanna give this n**** clout. “I don’t. I wanna whoop his ass so bad. I wanna whoop his ass so bad. 

"I wanna do it in South Africa, or Nigeria, but he’s got to do work, he’s got to do something, show me something, so I can whoop that ass and I can show you history.

“I’ll remind you, because you got to choose your words wisely when you speak on people that have come before you, people that paved the way for you. 

"You gotta pick your words wisely. You wanna try and be a big boy – I want be with the big boys. Go choose your words wisely, but I don’t wanna give him no clout.

“But if he does work and, and, I pray to God, he keeps winning, I will gladly drag his carcass across South Africa.”

The Nigerian flag was on display as Israel Adesanya reclaimed the UFC Middleweight title from Alex Pereira
The Nigerian flag was on display as Israel Adesanya reclaimed the UFC Middleweight title from Alex Pereira

Kamaru Usman responds to Du Plessis 

American and Nigerian professional mixed martial artist Kamarudeen Usman a one-time training partner of Du Plessis did not take too kindly to words involving ethnicity. 

The Nigerian nightmare urged him to “be a little bit more careful when speaking about ethnicity on the continent.

Dricus Du Plessis on Israel Adesanya

Following the press conference by Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis responded on his official Twitter account.

He said, "So you won’t say my name, that’s smart you better not.

"I don’t need your airtime at all, I have my whole continent of AFRICA behind me.

"Go enjoy your very spectacular victory at home in New Zealand. We are Africa we fear nothing."

Adesanya and Du Plessis makes sense?

In UFC 285, Du Plessis recently defeated veteran Derek Brunson by way of submission to earn his fifth straight victory.

It took Adesanya just two rounds to get revenge against Pereira at UFC 287
It took Adesanya just two rounds to get revenge against Pereira at UFC 287

In his subsequent match, he demanded either a title eliminator or a title shot.

Dana White, the president of the UFC, has set a date for an event in Africa.

But during the rule of Adesanya, Ngannou, and Usman—the latter two of whom no longer hold titles the promotion was unable to profit.

Adesanya, who won the middleweight championship again, resides in New Zealand but fights for his native Nigeria, frequently using that language during press conferences.

Although Adesanya declined to name his next opponent, the rising Du Plessis provides the champion with a straightforward narrative.

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