Today, UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, after defending his title against Israel Adesanya, settled the debate over who the true African fighter is. Following the fight, Adesanya and Du Plessis surprisingly displayed profound respect, greeting each other as if they were long-standing friends. However, this abrupt behavior change fueled skepticism among fans, who questioned the sincerity of their previous rivalry, suggesting it might have been fabricated to promote the fight and generate hype.

Du Plessis addressed the doubts about the authenticity of his feud with Adesanya, who earlier questioned Du Plessis’s African heritage by pointing to his physique and saying, “You’re the real African champion,” during the post-fight press conference. When questioned about the pre-fight animosity, Du Plessis clarified their genuine aversion. He stated, “The beef was not fake. The fact that we don’t like each other on a personal level was not fake. If we were in a social setting, I would probably not be sitting at his table. And that’s fine.”

‘Stillknocks’ further acknowledged Adesanya’s professional accomplishment but maintained his stance on their personal relationship, saying, “But the respect that I have for him in this sport and what he’s done, it can’t be denied. Because if you don’t, you’re an idiot.”

Israel Adesanya responded by highlighting Dricus du Plessis’ privileged upbringing in South Africa, contrasting it with his own experience of feeling Nigerian as a child in pursuit of better opportunities. During their exchange, Adesanya also referenced fellow African fighter Abdul Razak Alhassan, who similarly left his country due to hardship. Despite their past conflicts, Adesanya now expresses respect for Du Plessis.

Adesanya changed his view on Du Plessis

Following his loss of the UFC middleweight title to Dricus du Plessis, Israel Adesanya expressed newfound respect for his opponent. The grueling four-round fight, which ended with Adesanya’s submission, seemed to forge a mutual respect between the two fighters. Before the fight, a heated exchange at the pre-fight conference had intensified their rivalry. However, the post-fight narrative took a surprising turn as Adesanya, who had previously made aggressive statements, now praised Du Plessis.

Adesanya remarked, “I’m not really desperate to get it back.  He [du Plessis] gave me a lot of respect in there, and I gave him respect back. And I already knew he was a fan of mine, but yes, now I am a fan of his, so respect is always there, and Dricus is an African champion.”

What are your thoughts on the sudden change in behavior between Israel Adesany and Dricus du Plessis? Do you think they were faking their animosity to sell the fight? Currently, Du Plessis’ coach has expressed intentions for a rematch on African soil. Share your thoughts in the comments below.