UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya doesn’t find Dricus Du Plessis’ style aesthetically pleasing.
Du Plessis (19-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) meets former champ Robert Whittaker (24-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) on Saturday at UFC 290 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Du Plessis is unbeaten in the octagon and on the cusp of title contention if he can get past Whittaker. Adesanya is aware that the odds are stacked against Du Plessis, but based on recent results, he’s not entirely counting the South African out.
“I’m excited for this fight,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “On paper through their resume, people will look at Rob and say, ‘Oh, Rob’s got this, Rob’s going to smoke this guy, blah blah blah, former champion.’ Look, Dricus fights ugly, but he always finds a way to win.
“He’s just an ugly fighter, but he finds a way to win. I really pray he gets this done against Rob. I really, really pray he gets this done against Rob. I think it’s one for the history books. Dricus, if he wins, I’m gonna punish him. I’m gonna torture him.”
It’s no secret that Adesanya wants Du Plessis to win. Whittaker’s only two losses at middleweight have come to Adesanya, but “The Last Stylebender” only wants to envision Du Plessis getting his hand raised.
“I give him a 100 percent chance,” Adesanya said. “He’s going to beat Rob, so my bet is on Dricus ‘The African Warrior’ Du Plessis.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
