Dricus Du
Plessis certainly has a knack for making his opponents
emotional.

This initially surfaced prior to Du Plessis’ title win over
Sean
Strickland at UFC 297 this past January, when he touched a
nerve with his opponent during a pre-fight press conference.
“Stillknocks” broached the tender subject of Strickland’s abusive
childhood, which led to the then champ threatening to stab Du Plessis.

Du Plessis is now scheduled to defend his title against former
champ Israel
Adesanya at UFC 305
in Perth, Australia. The two have long been feuding over the
legitimacy of their status as real African champs. While Du
Plessis, who lives and trains in South Africa, claims to be the
residing African UFC champ, Adesanya accuses him of being
privileged — unlike others who had to leave African nations in
search of greener pastures.

At the pre-fight presser, Adesanya said he will be visiting his
home country of Nigeria as part of a global tour if he wins the
belt. Du Plessis cut Adesanya short, asking whether he would take
his servants along, referring to an old ESPN interview where “The
Last Stylebender” admitted togrowing up with servants. Adesanya was
initially worked up and when the camera panned back to him, could
be seen in tears, saying the champ “touched on a subject.”

About having consecutive opponents in tears prior to fight night,
Du Plessis claims it’s his way to deal with bullies.

UFC 305:
Du Plessis vs. Adesanya Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order
Now!

“I said it, I won’t be bullied ever,” the South African told
Daniel
Cormier. “When you have guys that act tough, that wants to
bully, once they get that medicine, that’s how you stop a bully as
well…I’m not a disrespectful person, I know that for a fact and I
won’t be told otherwise. I’m always respectful, if you’re
respectful towards me. If you’re going to try and make threats on
my life, make any kind of threats towards me, I won’t allow that…
And also, I think I might be the problem. Obviously because its
[two for two]. I’m also willing to go that route and say I take
full responsibility.”

However, on this occasion, du Plessis believes Adesanya tearing up
had more to do with the former champ himself.

“The man is more in his own head than I believe I was in his head,”
he told Full Send MMA in a separate interview. “I just
said the right things I guess, or the wrong things, depending on
which angle you look from. For me it’s the same thing, it’s
business, I wasn’t emotional at all, I [felt] after the press
conference like I felt before… No [regrets], I take that as a 10-7
round man. Definitely no regrets.”

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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