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By Peter Akinbo.
Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is keen on getting in the octagon against Dricus du Plessis, after recently announcing that he spoke to UFC president Dana White about possibly hosting a fight between the pair in South Africa.
Adesanya regained the middleweight title in style after knocking Alex Pereira out cold in the main event of UFC 287 last month.
Du Plessis hails from the Rainbow Nation, and following his comments about the UFC’s African champions, it appears that Adesanya wants to beat him in front of his home fans.
While appearing on a podcast hosted by his brother David, Adesanya said, “I tried to do it in South Africa, but apparently that might not work.
“I told Dana (White), ‘You guys beat COVID before any big sporting league got on the field or court. You can do anything.’ I still believe they can, I want to do it in South Africa or somewhere in Africa.
“But (Dricus du Plessis) thinks that they’re going to have his back. But it’s only the product of him that’s going to have his back.”
Adesanya and Pereira shared one of the most incredible rivalries across combat sports. The pair have met twice in the kickboxing ring and twice in the hallowed UFC octagon, with the Brazilian currently holding a 3-1 advantage over Adesanya.
‘The Last Stylebender’ was defeated twice in kickboxing by Pereira as well as UFC 281, before coming unstuck earlier this year at UFC 287. Adesanya and ‘Poatan’ may have crossed paths for the final time, as the Brazilian announced his move to light heavyweight several days after his defeat.
Adesanya later penned a sincere letter to his greatest adversary, and thanked Pereira for pushing ‘The Last Stylebender’ further than he could have gone on his own.
“I love this game. Nothing compares on this planet, in this life than putting it all on the line. One shot, the whole world watching…waiting…then BOOM! HISTORY. Our individual legends will always be intertwined because of the stories we’ve told with our beautiful violence,” Adesanya wrote across his social media platforms.
“I’m grateful we have this rivalry, I’m grateful he beat me. It forced me to grow, made me better. Now I have done the same for him, the gift that keeps on giving…ass whoopings. Shoutout to the Warrior from Brazil Alex “Poatan” Pereira!”
