In the South African mind, the fight is already won and lost before the first bell

WATCH: Dricus du Plessis says Israel Adesanya ‘handled himself like a clown’

By Ed Emeanua

Dricus du Plessis has been ranting up quite a storm ahead of his planned clash with Israel Adesanya ahead of their UFC Middleweight championship at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia in September.

South Africa’s Du Plessis won his mandatory title right following his a second-round TKO win over Robert Whittaker in a UFA MMA middleweight joust at UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. His shocking defeat of Whittaker set up his upcoming UFA title challenge of Adesanya in a couple of months.

Ever since, the South African MMA fighter has been talking up a storm against the UFC middleweight champion and feels his quick work over Whittaker gives him bragging rights as a clear favorite.

Du Plessis promises either winning by knockout or mauling the champion on the mat in his upcoming engagement against Nigeria’s Adesanya.

Du Plessis vows winning by a KO over Adesanya

“I’ll knock him out just like I did tonight,” The boastful South African UFC star said.

“If not, we saw his fight with Alex Pereira. If I get him to the floor, it is not even a fight. It’s not even a fight. If I just get my hands on him, it’s not even a fight. I will manhandle him. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. And as far as the striking goes, look at it, let’s take that out of the question.

Du Plessis is convinced that the way he won his last fight against Whitaker and the performance of Adesanya against the same earlier is enough clue that he’s a better fighter than the champion.

“You are as good as your last performance. What did his last performance look like against Whitaker? Yeah, you beat him. It was a close fight. What did my last performance against Whitaker look like? So right now, that’s how I plan on beating him.”

“The same way I beat Whittaker tonight by implementing the game plan and sticking to my style and doing what we do best, listening to my coaches, listening to the great Morne Visser, the great teammates I have at CIT, the guy, a small gym South Africa coming up with game plans with this awkward style, this style that looks completely wrong to so many people,” Du Plessis said.

“I’m the number one contender in the world right now so its time to put some respect on that.”

Please follow and like us: