Israel Adesanya celebrates after knocking out Alex Pereira of Brazil in to reclaim the middleweight title during UFC 287 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. Image: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP Israel Adesanya celebrates after knocking out Alex Pereira of Brazil in to reclaim the middleweight title during UFC 287 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
“Of course. Those are my people.” Israel Adesanya responded when asked if he would be down to fight Dricus du Plessis in South Africa according to . “That’s my people, I bet you those are my people. I know that for a fact. I don’t care about cheers, but those are my people. When I go there, when I touch South Africa, they’re my people. Trust me, you’ll see. When I go to South Africa, I’m more in touch with the culture in South Africa than he is.
Du Plessis had only one thought in his mind when asked who he wants as his first challenger after he won the UFC Middleweight title in Toronto at UFC 297.Du Plessis was propelled into the big time thanks to his beef with Israel Adesanya and he wants to repay the favour. Du Plessis defeated Markus Perez, Trevin Giles, Brad Tavares, Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and Robert Whittaker to earn his shot at the title but there will be plenty who feel that were it not for Adesanya, he wouldn’t have been elevated so quickly.