May 23, (THEWILL) – UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya finds himself embroiled in a heated dispute with rising contender Dricus Du Plessis over nationality.
Adesanya, who has developed a strong dislike for his opponent, took offence at Du Plessis’ remarks about wanting to become the first African-born champion in the UFC. The conflict has taken on an uncomfortable racial undertone, further intensifying the animosity between the fighters.
While the UFC has previously crowned African-born champions such as Francis Ngannou, Kamaru Usman, and Adesanya himself, the point of contention arises from the fact that these fighters live and train outside of the continent, residing either in America or New Zealand. Du Plessis attempted to clarify his statement, asserting that he meant to be the first champion born and fighting out of Africa.
However, the damage was already done, leading to a strong reaction from both Adesanya and Usman. Adesanya, referring to Du Plessis as a “cracker,” expressed his desire for their next fight, fuelling the tension between the two fighters. Adesanya’s national identity has been a subject of debate, as Du Plessis noted that he had identified himself as Kiwi, Chinese, and Nigerian at various times.
Nevertheless, he was born in Nigeria and considers himself African, although he currently resides outside the continent. In the upcoming UFC 290 event scheduled for July, Du Plessis is slated to face former champion, Robert Whittaker. The outcome of this match will determine the challenger for the middleweight title against Adesanya.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
