If there is one champion who will not keep quiet when it comes to rivalries it’s UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Adesanya took to social media to berate middleweight Dricus du Plessis for not taking the title fight against him at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia. Adesanya said that du Plessis turned the fight down due to a foot injury.
Dickless DuPussay. pic.twitter.com/UQwRF2a5tU
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) July 20, 2023
Du Plessis most recently defeated Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 setting up a title fight with Adesanya. Adesanya confronted him in the octagon and what followed was the start of what many believed would be a heated build up to a title fight at UFC 293.
Du Plessis did not really commit to a quick turnaround for fight Adesanya, but has previously poked at the champion by calling himself a real African and saying he would be an actual African champion.
This set Adesanya off and the grudge match seemed set after UFC 290. It was very much short-lived.
“I don’t even know how to start this, but Dricus du P****, you f****** b****. ‘Oh, all he had to do is put some gloves, I was ready to go again’ (Adesanya mocking what du Plessis said following the win at UFC 290).
No you weren’t, you’re a b****. That’s why you’re not taking this fight. Your foot’s sore. N****, my knee was jacked too, from my last fight. Guess what I did? I showed up because that’s what a f****** champion does. Championship-caliber. Built different.
A lot of you fighters talk about ‘Oh I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime.’ No you won’t. I do. Alexander Vokanovski does. We’re built different.
I’m at the gym right now, about to get some work (pans camera to show gym). So, I’m fighting in Sydney. I don’t give a f*** who. D***less, haha, d****less, f*** off. You’re out.
Strickland, you’re in, let’s do the man-dance, show you how to really dance. But yeah, I’m just tired of all you guys talking s*** about, ‘I can fight, I can fight.’ No you can’t, you p****, you b****.”
Adesanya called for Sean Strickland to get the shot at UFC 293. Strickland is coming off a knockout victory over Abusupiyan Magomedov at UFC Vegas 76. Strickland took the mic at his post-fight presser to call for a title shot.
No word as to if the fight is official as of this posting.
