When Israel Adesanya locked eyes with Dricus Du Plessis in a tense stare-down back in July, the anticipation was palpable. Both middleweights were seemingly on a collision course, with the expectation that they would settle their business in the octagon at UFC 293.
However, fate had a different plan. Du Plessis, nursing a lingering foot injury sustained during his victory over Robert Whittaker, made the tough call to opt out of the September fight date. This unforeseen setback forced Adesanya to recalibrate his focus toward a new adversary, Sean Strickland. While fighting close to home in the upcoming Sydney, Australia card held immense significance for Adesanya, the news of Du Plessis’ withdrawal was met with a mix of emotions.
In an exclusive interview with MMA Fighting for Stake.com, Adesanya candidly expressed his sentiments: “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed. He missed out on his opportunity. That would have been [huge], but again, I think it’s for the greater good. That’s OK. When it happens, it will be one of the biggest fights in sporting history. All in due time.”
The rivalry between these middleweights had ignited when Du Plessis declared his intention to bring the title back to Africa as “the African fighter in the UFC.” While Du Plessis currently resides and trains in Africa, Adesanya was born in Nigeria but now calls New Zealand home. These words and the explanations that followed placed Du Plessis squarely at the top of Adesanya’s list of adversaries, intensifying the desire for their showdown at UFC 293.
Although the timing didn’t align for their bout, Adesanya remains confident that their paths will ultimately cross. He believes that this delay might even create a more significant opportunity to settle their grudge. Du Plessis, proudly representing his South African roots, and the UFC’s growing interest in staging an event in Africa, offer Adesanya the prospect of returning home for the fight, with his coveted middleweight title on the line.
Adesanya shared his thoughts, saying, “It could happen in South Africa. It could happen somewhere on the great continent of Africa. It could happen in Nigeria, Morocco, even South Africa — it would be better if we had it in South Africa. I’d like to whoop his ass in his own home country.”
However, Adesanya acknowledges that predicting the exact timeline remains uncertain, as it hinges on perfect timing. This uncertainty intensifies his disappointment over Du Plessis passing on the September opportunity. Adesanya recognizes that he could swiftly dispatch Strickland and potentially return to the cage before 2023 ends, or he might opt to make his comeback in 2024.
The ever-changing landscape of the middleweight division means that new challengers could emerge. Adesanya doesn’t take anything for granted, except for the fact that Du Plessis missed his guaranteed title shot at UFC 293.
In Adesanya’s words, “We’ll see how I feel. We’ll see what’s happening around that time. Dricus shouldn’t have thought he could sit pretty in this division and just hold onto his No. 1 spot. I’ve never done that. I just go for the chances when they’re there. That’s how I fought Anderson Silva. That’s how I fought for the title. You take the chances when they’re there. You don’t wait and hope. So he’ll learn. But we’ll see, and I’ll see how I feel because I call the shots.”
