The next UFC middleweight title fight is sure to be a good one.
In a roundabout way, we got to the highly anticipated grudge match between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. Wildly enough, the roles are completely reversed from what everyone expected them to be heading into the fight as South Africa’s “Stillknocks” now holds the title, while Adesanya aims to become a three-time champion.
For that very reason, Du Plessis isn’t sold on Adesanya’s motivation to win at this stage in his illustrious 27-fight career (24-3). The fight will be Adesanya’s first of 2024, returning after his second middleweight title reign ended in defense No. 1 opposite Sean Strickland via unanimous decision at UFC 293 in September.
“It comes down to seeing the hunger, seeing the fire in someone’s eyes and I don’t see that,” Du Plessis told mainevent. “I can’t remember if he explicitly said he’s retiring, but he said he’s taking off for a couple of months. I don’t remember if he said he was retiring but it almost gave off that, and everybody would have understood that. He did what he had to do in the sport, and he has reached the pinnacle of what he’s gonna reach in his career when it comes to the winning streak. He’s never gonna have that streak again. Defending the belt as many times as he did. He doesn’t have the time or anything to beat that, so what is he doing this for?”
After the Strickland win, “Tarzan” went on to defend against Du Plessis a few months later in January at UFC 297 where he lost a split decision. Du Plessis vs. Adesanya presumably was expected to happen sooner, but the new champion was healing from some lingering injuries he had to fight through to achieve his dream.
“The Last Stylebender” did similarly his last victory, in a way. Matched with cross-sport rival Alex Pereira, Adesanya finally got his first win in four attempts over “Poatan” when he won back the 185-pound crown with a second-round knockout at UFC 287 in April 2023. Storywise, it doesn’t get much better than that and the former two-time champion has let the win’s significance be known.
Du Plessis doesn’t necessarily think about his Adesanya matchup as a potential career-ender. If it is, it is. He’s just worried about himself.
“I honestly believe Israel Adesanya’s biggest personal achievement other than being a champion, and being a great one at that, was getting that win back over Alex Pereira,” Du Plessis said. “I think that was in his whole sports career, a big, big issue for him. Something that he needed to do was beat Alex Pereira and prove to himself, and he did it. I think after that fight, that was the last box he wanted to check off.
“I think retiring is something he’ll do himself. I’m going out there to beat him. Whether he retires or not, that’s got nothing to do with me. I’m there to win that fight.”
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Sound & Pound.
World’s Most Dangerous.
Free fight.
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PFL Nashville Fight Week.
Wonderboy breaks it down.
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Alexa is the best.
Mokaev responds.
My dream is to become UFC Champion
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) July 30, 2024
I turn them all down because UFC gave me the platform to put my name out there and earn money to feed my family!
btw PFL don’t have flyweight division
All these journalists that make this shit up are idiots!
I hope Dana resigns me, this… https://t.co/ArCTIF9Wwy
This is first time I punched outside the cage, it was more personal
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) July 30, 2024
He was the one who head butted 5 days before Perez fight when I went to shake his hand in Vegas!
I understand, this is wrong what happen at the hotel and I apologise to the UFC, but there’s some nights I…
Family.
Emotional exchange between Loopy Godinez @loopygodinez and her sister Ana Paula. She has become a regular in her corner but she won't be able to be with her in #UFCAbuDhabi since she's competing in the #Paris2024 Olympics representing team Canada in wrestling. pic.twitter.com/pHCxATs7Ip
— Carlos Contreras Legaspi (@CCLegaspi) July 31, 2024
Luana Pinheiro (11-3) vs. Gillian Robertson (14-8); UFC Fight Night, Nov. 9
DDP makes an interesting argument. It would feel like too soon for Adesanya to call it a career after this next fight if he lost, but at the same time, he really does have nothing left to do. Outside of maybe capturing a second-division title, of course.
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