LAS VEGAS – Israel Adesanya had a lot to say in the cage Saturday at UFC 290 and Dricus Du Plessis wasn’t impressed.
Following Du Plessis’ win over Robert Whittaker at T-Mobile Arena, Adesanya entered the cage for a promotional faceoff. While things did not get physical, the trash talk (including numerous N-words dropped by Adesanya) was aplenty as tensions continue to build between two Africa-born fighters.
“I’m prepared for everything, anything he says,” Du Plessis told MMA Junkie and other reporters after the fight. “He’s been acting like a clown in there. That’s not how a champion behaves. That’s not how a man behaves. He’s behaving like a child. Conduct yourself like a champion. There’s people looking up to you and you’re behaving like that? If that sells tickets, then good for him. I’ll sell tickets my way. I’m a gentleman. I’m a man and I’ll behave like a man.”
While not officially announced as Du Plessis competed just hours ago, he’s expected to face Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, an event that takes place Sept. 9 in Sydney, Australia. Should Du Plesiss get his hands on Adesanya, he likes his chances.
“I’ll knock him out just like I did tonight,” Du Plessis 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. As far as his striking goes, look it. Take that out of the question. You’re as good as your last performance. What did his last performance look like against Whittaker? Yeah, he beat him. It was a close fight. What did my last performance against Whittaker look like?
“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 I do best, listening to my coaches, listening to the great teammates I have at CIT. It’s a small gym in South Africa coming up with game plans, this awkward style, this style that looks completely wrong to so many people. I’m the No. 1 contender in the world right now. It’s time to put some respect on that.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
