The stoppage of Israel Adesanya’s against Dricus du Plessis was one of the best moments in the history of MMA. The culmination of the high-stakes rage battle of wondering who the “real Black” fighter was ended with Adesanya on the losing end. Even though Adesanya lost, he came out of the cage intact and even gave du Plessis’ a hug via a flying kiss. But fans and analysts are left asking the question as to why he had to fold.
What fans and fighters think
Some, including Alex Perera, angrily puzzled that Adesanya might be injured whom they nicknamed ‘no kicking’. Not everybody cut the same profile as Whittaker did during his otherwise fierce fighting against Adesanya. When interviewed on Submission Radio, Whittaker said that Adesanya is a very talented fighter but the current version of him is the best ever. However, he said that Adesanya erred in a major way in navigating himself during his fight with du Plessis. Killing is an extreme form of a verdict; but in Whittaker’s case, all he had to say was “If you don’t kill him, he will win.”
Whittaker, who met duplessis only on the cricket ground, was much inspired by the performances of the South African. He responded, “Yeah, I was impressed with how Adesanya looked. That’s probably the best version anyone has seen from him. He was very busy, he was looking good, he was landing nice shots. But, oh man, DDP is one of those guys that will actually win the fight if you don’t knock him out.
On this point, Whittaker noted how du Plessis survived every attack launched towards him by Adesanya and then pick his shots at the right time. The fight was very intense and spirited and the underdog Du Plessis who is popularly called ‘Stilknocks’ was able to knock down Adesanya in the fourth quarter which shocked many. Whittaker said that although Adesanya had a very good beard and landed a large number of significant strikes, du Plessis chased him relentlessly for the victory.
Adesanya Denies Injury Claims
After the fight, rumors spread that Adesanya could be injured, especially due to his uncharacteristic lack of punches but Adesanya was quick to shut down these speculations. In response to Perera’s comments, Adesanya took to social media to clarify, “I just said, ‘He knows my type.’ Please go bite some grass.” His direct reaction was to try to dispel unfounded assumptions about his role.
Despite the controversy surrounding the loss and what went wrong, Adesanya is still not giving up. Faced with two consecutive defeats, he may now have to move back up to middleweight or even consider moving down. However, Adesanya’s spirit still seems to be there, especially after his recent trip to his hometown.
Nigeria’s Triumphant Return
Following that loss, Adesanya returned to Nigeria for the first time since 2019. Although he returned home after the defeat, the reception received was overwhelmingly positive the streets of Lagos were alive with celebration, as fans waved open to welcome their hero back. Deeply moved by the experience, Adesanya reflected on the journey in a post to X saying, “Strength never dies; It can be transferred and amplified. Bless the future, bless my people, their flame inspires me.”
Everyone is watching Adesanya closely to see how he would respond to these setbacks as 2025 draws near. While the path ahead may be difficult, one thing is certain: Adesanya’s will is unwavering.
