Is Israel Adesanya’s Fight With Dricus Du Plessis After Strickland UFC 293? Will the Beef That Escalated Into a Controversial Face Off Finally Get Settled?

There aren’t that many UFC fighters in the Middleweight division who can make tall claims against the champ, Israel Adesanya. He has wiped out the entire division, two times over. However, there is one fighter who has challenged Adesanya and everything that he has accomplished and proved. Middleweight fighter Dricus Du Plessis came and rocked Adesanya and got under his skin when he challenged his ‘African roots’.

The two started going at each other on social media and didn’t hold back from making ‘displeasing’ statements and allegations about each other. It all started to cook till UFC 290 happened. After Du Plessis shocked the world by defeating Robert Whittaker, Adesanya stepped into the ring and the two had a really ‘ugly’ face off. The fans were sure that Du Plessis was next in line for a title shot but an injury sustained from that fight, forced him out of the fight. He was replaced by Sean Strickland who is currently gearing up to fight the ‘Stylebender’ at UFC 293.

Will Dricus du Plessis get his title shot against Israel Adesanya right after UFC 293?

When Dricus Du Plessis pulled out of the UFC 293 title fight, the entire world of MMA was disappointed, including the UFC president, Dana White. Adesanya vs. Du Plessis could have easily been one of the biggest fights of the year and could have made UFC 293 one of the most memorable and profitable events for the UFC this year.

Naturally, White didn’t take too well at an opportunity that he had to pass up because Du Plessis wasn’t up for the fight. In fact, even Middleweight champ Adesanya had a few things to say to Du Plessis about going with a different contender for a title shot.

In a recent press conference, Dana White was asked whether Dricus Du Plessis is next in line to fight Israel Adesanya after Sean Strickland. The UFC President didn’t hold back. “You know how much I love when guys turn down fights.“, he said. “I don’t know. We’ll see what happens on Saturday and then we’ll go from there.“, clarified White.

Everyone knows Dana White doesn’t take too kindly to fighters who turn down big fights and opportunities. therefore, White’s non-committal stance on Du Plessis being next for Adesanya is somewhat justified – at least according to Dana White.

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The ‘Stylebender’ also sent a message to Du Plessis, reminding him of how the business works. He said that the rankings wouldn’t help him and that he was the one calling the shots, not Du Plessis. At the UFC 293 press conference, Adesanya said, “You can sit pretty wherever you want, but if I decide to, I might give [the title shot] to whoever wins between Costa and Khamzat, not you.”

What does the future hold for Dricus Du Plessis? Title shot? Or Israel Adesanya? Maybe even both?

The MMA community seems to be in agreement with the idea that Sean Strickland is just a scapegoat for Israel Adesanya till he can get his fight against Dricus Du Plessis. However, Strickland has been seen putting in the work, and in the world of MMA, anything can happen.

Now, from how it looks, there are two options for Du Plessis next. In case Adesanya wins his UFC 293 bout, Du Plessis can not only try and exact revenge against Adesanya but also stand a chance to become the UFC Middleweight champ. However, if Strickland takes the cake, then he might have to make a decision – either gun for the title and then fight Adesanya later on or fight Adesanya and become the title contender once again (which he already is).

Another alternative scenario is that Jared Cannonier, who is going to be the backup fighter at UFC 293 in case either ‘Izzy’ or ‘Tarzan’ doesn’t come through, might be the fight for Du Plessis before he can earn his way back into the good books of Dana White and get his title shot opportunity.

Watch This Story – Dana White unsure about Dricus Du Plessis’ title shot fight after UFC 293