Israel Adesanya has recently expressed admiration for Dricus du Plessis following their encounter at UFC 305. In a surprising turn of events, Adesanya, who has often been outspoken about his rivals, revealed a newfound respect for the South African native. This revelation came after his loss, marking a shift in his usual approach to post-fight discussions.
Adesanya’s demeanor during the post-UFC 305 press conference was notably different from what fans have come to expect. Rather than delivering sharp or dismissive remarks, “The Last Stylebender” took a more reflective and respectful stance. He openly admitted that he has become a fan of Du Plessis, a fighter he once viewed primarily as a competitor.
Adesanya shared his thoughts on the mutual respect that has developed between them:
“I’m not really desperate to get it back,” he said, referring to the idea of a rematch. “He [Du Plessis] gave me a lot of respect in there and I gave him his respect back. I already knew he was a fan of me. But now I’m a fan of his because we’ve been in there, we’ve done it.”
The former champion even mentioned the possibility of connecting with Du Plessis outside the Octagon:
“When I’m in South Africa, I’ll tap in with him. I said, ‘Look, we can hang out, but just so you know, when we have to fight again, I’m going to kill you.’ He’s like, ‘I’m going to kill you too.’ Respect is always there,” Adesanya added. This exchange highlights the sportsmanship and mutual respect that can exist even among fierce competitors.
Israel Adesanya Admits He’s Now ‘A Fan’ of Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 305
Reflecting on his journey, Adesanya spoke about destiny and how events in his life have often unfolded in unexpected ways:
“This is not what I planned. This is not what I manifested, but I believe in the strangest things. Everything happens for a reason,” he said. Adesanya, known for his introspective nature, emphasized that his journey is far from over. “It’s still my destiny. It’s not about the belt. It’s not about all those things. It’s just about doing what I want to do in this game to close the show. Like I said, I still got a long way to go.”
Adesanya’s comments also touched on his role as one of the pioneering African champions in the UFC. Alongside Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou, Adesanya has been a trailblazer for African fighters on the global stage. While he acknowledges the achievements of Du Plessis, he remains proud of the legacy that he, Usman, and Ngannou have built. “Dricus is an African champion. But the three kings [Adesanya, Usman, and Ngannou] will reign supreme. That era right there was what set this off for people like him. He’s going to inspire another generation of African fighters as well. So congrats to him tonight. Until we meet again,” Adesanya reflected.
This candid and respectful tone from Adesanya is a departure from the more aggressive persona he has sometimes displayed in the past. It indicates a period of reflection for the former champion, who has now gone winless in his last two title fights. While his future in the Octagon remains uncertain, it seems Adesanya is in no rush to return, opting instead to take some time to contemplate his next steps.
What’s Next?
For Du Plessis, the victory at UFC 305 is a significant milestone in his career. As the reigning champion, he has expressed a desire to offer Robert Whittaker a rematch, but he’s also open to facing Sean Strickland if that’s what the fans want. Du Plessis’ win over Adesanya has undoubtedly elevated his standing in the sport, and it will be interesting to see how his career unfolds from here.
Do you think we ever see Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis run it back? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
