Dricus Du Plessis : Why did Israel Adesanya behave like a clown at UFC 290? Adesanya Fires Back!

Ben Madilynn July 10, 2023

Dricus DuPlessis, a rising UFC middleweight star, recently criticized Israel Adesanya’s behaviour at UFC 290. The champion was described as having behaved in an unprofessional manner. “like a clown” During his fight. Du Plessis criticized Adesanya for his taunting, and for the way he acted during the fight. He believes that this was disrespectful towards both Adesanya and the sport in general. Du Plessis was disappointed in Adesanya’s behavior and stressed the importance of treating opponents with respect.

Israel Adesanya, in response to Du Plessis’s comments, defended his actions by saying that his showmanship and fighting style are part of the entertainment value he brings. Adesanya acknowledges that not everyone is a fan of his style, but believes that he’s doing his job as long as his actions are exciting and engaging to the fans. Adesanya responded by saying that his in-cage behavior is a way for him to entertain and distinguish himself from the other fighters of the division. Du Plessis’ criticism, however, highlights the ongoing discussion surrounding the line that must be drawn between showmanship (or acting) and respect for combat sports.

No. 1 UFC middleweight contender Dricus Du Plessis The confrontation between him and the champion was dismissed Israel Adesanya After his victory over Robert Whittaker You can also check out our other articles. UFC 290.

Adesanya stepped into the octagon After Du Plessis stopped the former champion, he let out a string of expletives that he had apparently been saving for the South African. Although the two did not come to blows in the fight, the language used by Du Plessis gave it a racial overtone.

“You saw it tonight, I’m prepared,” Du Plessis stated at the press conference following Saturday’s fight in Las Vegas. “I’m ready for everything that he says.”

“He’s behaving like a clown in there. That’s not how a champion behaves. That’s not at all 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, good for him. I’ll sell tickets in my way. I’m a gentleman, I’m a man, and I’ll behave like a man.”

Du Plessis attracted Adesanya by making African residence a key part of his campaign for the title. He compared Adesanya’s residency in New Zealand with his in Africa and added: “that’s an African champion, and that’s who I’ll be.”

Du Plessis has defended himself from critics who have accused him of disrespecting Adesanya’s African heritage. He said that he had never explicitly stated he would be. “more African” It’s better to be the champion. Adesanya didn’t believe that explanation and wanted to fight at UFC 293, in Sydney, on 10th September.

“I never questioned his ethnicity,” Adesanya said recently on The MMA Hour. “I never said he’s not African, even though colonization — we don’t want to go over all that stuff. He is in Africa, he was born in South Africa, and I never questioned that. But the fact that he was being a d***head, ‘We know who the real African is, I breathe African air,’ all that kind of stuff — how the f*** are you going to question me, Francis, and Kamaru’s blackness or African-ness? Who the f*** are you? So I had to put that out there. I want to educate him.”

Adesanya escalated the rhetoric on Saturday by repeatedly calling du Plessis “n-word”. He mocked du Plessis by offering to take a DNA test that would prove his Caucasian descent.

Du Plessis stated that he did not feel rattled by this sudden incursion.

“It’s usually the contender that goes into the cage, right? So even he sees me as the champion already,” Adesanya was referred to as a middleweight by the competitor. “He knows I’m the champion, and now that he’s seen me in that cage, he knows what a force I am in there. He could feel the energy, and I could feel how insignificant he is to me when we get into that cage.”

Adesanya, Du Plessis and their MMA careers are not long in the tooth. They sparred in Thailand at an early stage of each other’s career. Adesanya recognized that Du Plessis had a superior grip.

Du Plessis cited his knockout over Whittaker to prove his competitiveness. However, he reiterated that if the fight with Adesanya went to the floor, he would be confident.

“I’ll knock him out just like I did tonight,” du Plessis said. “We saw him fight with Alex [Pereira]. It isn’t even a battle if I bring him down to the floor. It’s a non-fight. Even if I only get his hands, it isn’t a fight. I’m going to manhandle this guy. I’ve done this before, and I will again.

“You are only as good at your last performance.” What was his last performance like against Whittaker? Yeah, you beat him. It was a very close fight. How would you describe my performance last time I faced Whittaker? That’s the way I intend to beat him. In the same manner that I defeated Whittaker last night, I will stick to my game plan. I’ll do what I know best. I’ll listen to my coaches and to the teammates who are my greatest assets.

“This style that looks completely wrong to so many people. I’m the No. 1 contender in the world right now. So it’s time to put some respect on that.”

Adesanya’s respect for Du Plessis will be shown in the octagon. The middleweight champ has made it clear he does not forget what Du Plessis said.