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Tensions soared at the UFC 305 press conference in Perth, Australia, as Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis clashed in an intense verbal exchange that left the crowd stunned. What began as a relatively respectful fight week quickly spiraled into an emotional confrontation, with both fighters laying bare the deeply personal stakes of their upcoming middleweight title fight on August 18.
The heated exchange was sparked by a question about whether Adesanya would take the belt back to Africa if he dethrones du Plessis. The challenger didn’t hesitate to bring up Adesanya’s childhood, referencing a 2020 ESPN feature that highlighted Adesanya’s early life in Nigeria. Du Plessis jabbed,
“Are you taking the servants with you when you’re going back [to Africa with the belt]? Are you taking the servants with you if you’re going back?”
Adesanya, visibly shaken, responded with fury,
“What the f*ck are you even on about? Bro, shut the f*ck up. You don’t even know anything about my story. You have no idea who the f*ck I am.” His voice cracked with emotion as he continued, “My father and myself had to wake up at 4 a.m. and clean the banks while my mom studied to be a nurse. You don’t know my f*cking story. Don’t f*cking speak on my story if you don’t know my story.”
The back-and-forth between the two fighters only intensified, with du Plessis repeatedly dismissing Adesanya’s experiences.
“I don’t care about your story,” du Plessis insisted, showing no sympathy for the former champion’s emotional outburst. Adesanya, however, remained steadfast, promising, “I will show you who you are Sunday, so right now shut the f*ck up.”
Adesanya’s outpouring of emotion underscored the deep-seated animosity between the two fighters, a rivalry that has been simmering since du Plessis declared in 2023 that he wanted to be the first true African UFC champion. The statement struck a nerve with Adesanya, who, along with fellow African-born fighters Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou, had already achieved UFC gold. Du Plessis’s comments implied that his continued residence and training in Africa made him more deserving of the title, a notion that Adesanya has vehemently rejected.
“He touched a subject there because I do this for my family,” Adesanya said, choking back tears. “I do this for the people I love, and I will fight for you forever, I swear to God. Watch this. Look, I am a f*cking human being, I am a man. I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time.”
The stakes for this fight couldn’t be higher. Adesanya, a two-time former UFC middleweight champion, is looking to reclaim the belt after suffering a shocking loss to Sean Strickland late last year. For du Plessis, who captured the middleweight title in January with a split decision win over Strickland, this fight is about solidifying his place in history as Africa’s first true UFC champion.
As UFC 305 draws near, fans are bracing for what promises to be an electrifying bout. The emotional intensity of the press conference only adds to the anticipation, setting the stage for a showdown that transcends sport and delves into the personal, cultural, and emotional narratives that define these two warriors.
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