The tension between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya reached a boiling point during the UFC 305 week press conference in Perth, Australia. In an emotional scene, the two middleweights erupted in an explosive back-and-forth, reigniting their long-standing debate over what constitutes a true African champion.
The confrontation began when Adesanya responded to a question about whether he’d take the belt back to Africa if he dethrones du Plessis. The champion then took a swipe at his challenger’s childhood, referencing a 2020 ESPN feature in which Adesanya recalled not learning how to bathe himself until age 8 “when he insisted he no longer needed the aid of the family’s domestic servants.”
“Are you taking the servants with you when you’re going back [to Africa with the belt]? Are you taking the servants with you if you’re going back?” du Plessis asked.
Adesanya, visibly upset, responded, “Bro, shut the f*ck up. You don’t even know anything about my story. You have no idea who the f*ck I am.”
The exchange escalated, with Adesanya breaking down in tears as he recounted his personal struggles, stating, “My father and myself had to wake up at 4 a.m. and clean the banks while my mom studies to be a nurse.”
Du Plessis, the first South African UFC champion, stood firm, stating, “You can’t change the facts. You can’t change those facts.”
Adesanya, a two-time former UFC middleweight champion, was expected to defend the belt against du Plessis in late 2023, but du Plessis was unable to make the date. Adesanya instead fought Sean Strickland, losing in a shocking upset. The 35-year-old’s 12-fight win streak at 185 pounds was the second-longest in UFC middleweight history.
As the UFC 305 main event approaches, du Plessis, who captured the title in January, is determined to prove his worth as the true African champion. The 30-year-old holds a perfect 7-0 record in the octagon, with stoppage wins over the likes of Robert Whittaker, Darren Till, and Derek Brunson.
“It’s pretty evident how bad I want this,” du Plessis said. “And on Sunday morning, there will be no doubt of how bad I wanted this.”
