PERTH, Australia – Israel Adesanya couldn’t contain his emotions while firing back at Dricus Du Plessis.
A big talking point in Adesanya’s (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) title fight against middleweight champion Du Plessis (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 305 main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at RAC Arena is Du Plessis’ comments about being the first real African champion.
Adesanya has debunked that claim on numerous occasions, but one specific comment from Du Plessis during Friday’s press conference seemed to particularly get under his skin.
“On Tuesday, I’m going back to Nigeria,” Adesanya said. “I think Friday I’m going to South Africa, and then the next week I’m going back to New Zealand. I am a child of the earth, and when I take this belt, I’m taking it everywhere with me.”
“Are you taking the servants with you when you’re going back?,” Du Plessis responded.
That’s the comment which set Adesanya off.
“What the f*ck are you even on about?,” Adesanya fired back.
“My guy, it’s obviously a see and tell,” Du Plessis explained. “We can see that, what do you mean? You’re saying that I made it about culture?”
“Bro, shut the f*ck up, you don’t know anything about my story!,” Adesanya interrupted. “You have no idea who the f*ck I am.”
“I don’t care about your story,” Du Plessis said.
“Listen, my father and myself had to wake up at 4 a.m. and clean the banks while my mum studies to be a nurse,” Adesanya said. “You don’t know my f*cking story. Don’t f*cking speak of my story if you don’t know my story. I will show you who you are Sunday so right now, shut the f*ck up!”
“You’re talking about I made it about anything else than being the first residing African champ,” Du Plessis calmly responded.
Adesanya took issue with Du Plessis staring him down during the “Welcome to Country Ceremony.”
“You couldn’t even respect the people of the land,” Adesanya said. “Welcome to Country, you were the one not even doing anything. I took my shoes off to connect with the people, with the mob. What did you do? You stand there and try to mean mug me. Are you stupid? I’m not your f*cking man, b*tch!”
“You’re gonna do what I did? Take as the first residing African? That was exactly it,” Du Plessis said. “You can’t change that.”
In the conclusion of the press conference, Adesanya was asked if this is what he expected from Du Plessis. He was brought to tears when responding.
“He touched a subject there because I do this for my family,” Adesanya said while tearing. “I do this for the people I love, and I will fight for you forever. I swear to God. Look, I’m a f*cking human being. I’m a man. I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time. I feel the love from the crowd. First time I fought here, (UFC) 221, that was February 2018, that was me making my dream come true. Sunday, I’m going to f*cking kill your dreams, b*tch!”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.
