Dricus Du Plessis stands out as the UFC middleweight title holder, nevertheless it looks like he’s at the moment in a holding sample because the UFC waits for his or her former 185 pound champ to come back again and battle.
Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis is the apparent battle to make subsequent, however issues are difficult by Adesanya’s present depart of absence from competitors. There was speak that the battle may happen in Perth, Australia for August. However nothing is official but.
In a brand new interview on YouTube, “Stillknocks” gave an replace on the “Stylebender” battle and even paid his rival some compliments within the course of.
“I do know what the folks wanna see, and I’m going and do it,” Du Plessis mentioned. “And combating Israel Adesanya is by far the battle that everyone needs to see. There’s quite a lot of historical past there. There’s animosity there. I don’t see why we aren’t combating. Properly, I imply, I perceive why we’re not in South Africa in the meanwhile, though that may have been nice, however Adesanya doesn’t have quite a lot of years within the sport left. Two years if that a lot.”
“What he’s completed within the sport is spectacular, it’s superb,” he added. “And as an athlete, if you happen to don’t respect Israel, you’re a moron. As an individual, you may have your opinions, which I do. However relating to what he’s completed within the sport, he’s nothing in need of spectacular. He’s he’s an unbelievable fighter, and combating him is goes to cement my legacy. It’s gonna be it’s gonna be one thing it’s gonna be one other feather within the cap, ?”
“Beating a man like Robert Whittaker, turning into a world champion, after which beating one of many greats like Israel Adesanya? How are you not motivated by that? I’ve seen Adesanya as my even after I wasn’t within the UFC. I’ve seen him because the man that I have to beat to grow to be the most effective. He set the bar. I imply, lengthy earlier than I used to be within the UFC, he was the champion, and he set the bar of what you want to be to be a champion.”
I’ve agreed to the opponent and site so what are we ready for ?
— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) Could 20, 2024
Du Plessis additionally commented on Sean Strickland, the fighter he took the belt off of to grow to be champion. That they had an in depth battle at UFC 297 in January, and there was some speak of a rematch if Adesanya wasn’t able to return.
“To be fairly trustworthy with you, I might have been very proud of [the Strickland] battle,” Dricus mentioned. “I might have liked that battle. It could have been rather a lot simpler, if you happen to ask me, as a result of I’ve been in there full velocity with him and I felt what he can do, and I felt the errors that I made. We didn’t name it errors. I’ll simply put my foot on the gasoline faster, after which I feel I’ll get him out of there.”
“However that that’s not what the UFC wished. I used to be comfortable to do it. Very comfortable. I’ve no drawback with that by any means. Give me [Strickland], good. Give me Adesanya, good. They usually went with Adesanya. Cool. And that’s it. That’s thrilling. I’m comfortable both manner.”
Du Plessis additionally confirmed his roadmap to potential double champion standing: defeat Israel Adesanya, defeat Khamzat Chimaev, after which battle Alex Pereira for the 205 pound strap.
“If Khamzat beats Whittaker, beating Khamzat? That earns you a spot at mild heavyweight,” he mentioned. “Should you take a look at the the greats, the boogeyman, everyone appears to be terrified of Khamzat. I might love that battle.”
“However like I mentioned, I’ve no drawback defending my belt a couple of occasions earlier than that. For now, my focus is 100% on the middleweight division and my subsequent battle, which in all probability could be Israel Adesanya. And that’s the place all my focus is. Not one of the different plans can come collectively with out this.”
