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via Imago

via Imago

Conor McGregor was keeping a close eye on UFC 290, as his old belt was on the line. International Fight Week did not disappoint the striking phenom, as nine out of thirteen fights ended in a finish. However, Dricus Du Plessis’ TKO win over Robert Whittaker stood out for the Irishman. Much like the rest of the MMA world, ‘The Notorious’ was also impressed by the underdog’s performance and offered words of praise.

Du Plessis had an eventful evening at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Not only did he knock out the formidable Whittaker, but he has put himself in the driving seat for the next shot at the title. Israel Adesanya and Du Plessis were in a heated stare-down and had a few words for each other. The intensity and expletives could have prompted ‘The Notorious’ to take to Twitter and endorse ‘Stillknocks’ for an undisputed title bout.

Conor McGregor hails milestone moment for South African MMA

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On the back of his fifth finish, Dricus Du Plessis appears to be cruising towards a shot at UFC middleweight gold. The 29-year-old is doing more than his fair share to put South Africa on the MMA map like Conor McGregor did for Ireland.

The former UFC champion wrote, “Huge congrats to South African MMA and South Africa, period! That is an incredible win for them inside the UFC’s Octagon! Title fight next for sure! Let’s go S.A.”

If the heated face-off between Adesanya and Du Plessis is any sign, the title fight is as good as booked. UFC President Dana White had confirmed Whittaker vs. Du Plessis as a title eliminator when he announced the fight back in April. The bad blood between the stars proves he made the right call.

Read More“Dricus Didn’t Have to Fight Whittaker”- Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker Claim Dricus Du Plessis “F*cked Up” for Fighting Robert Whittaker

Adesanya and Du Plessis’ brief exchange in the cage was not pleasant at all. While they did not resort to physical altercations, the verbal exchange points to an ugly build-up to their fight. So what did they scream at each other’s faces?

Adesanya and Du Plessis exchange verbal barbs at UFC 290

The face-off between ‘Stylebender’ and ‘Stillknocks’ was one of the most intense ones in a long time. The two clearly were not very keen to pay each other respect, and their differences stood out for the world to see. Adesanya’s comments saw Du Plessis clap back.

“I’m African but I ain’ no brother of yours son,” clapped back Du Plessis. “So what are you saying to everybody in New Zealand?” he said.

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After his UFC 287 victory, Israel Adesanya stated he wanted Du Plessis to win at UFC 290. The champion said, “I manifested this!” before he walked into the cage to confront Du Plessis.

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Both Adesanya and Du Plessis are itching to have a go at each other. Fortunately for them, the UFC brass is also on board with the idea. UFC president Dana White discussed the fight but was unsure if Du Plessis would be ready for UFC 293 in September, the timeline he had in mind for Adesanya’s next fight.

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What are your opinions about Du Plessis’ recent performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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