Israel Adesanya will be facing Sean Strickland at UFC 293. The main event came to fruition after Adesanya’s original opponent, Dricus Du Plessis, had to withdraw due to an injury. DDP defeated Robert Whitaker in the co-main event of UFC 290, which was headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez in the featured bout of the main card.
‘Stillknocks’ is undefeated in the UFC, and in his previous three bouts, he defeated Whitaker, Derek Brunson, and Darren Till. Prior to joining the UFC, the South African held the middleweight and welterweight titles in EFC and also the middleweight title in KSW.
Israel Adesanya issues stern warning to Dricus Du Plessis
After the post-fight speech with Joe Rogan at UFC 290, Izzy entered the octagon and had a face-off with the South African fighter. The interaction became controversial as the middleweight champion used offensive language directed at Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis, who had previously praised Robert Whitaker, expressed negative sentiments towards Israel Adesanya
Both Israel Adesanya and his coach, Eugene Bareman, share the opinion that declining a title shot wouldn’t guarantee another opportunity. They believe that it’s the champion who calls the shots, not the challenger. News of Du Plessis pulling out became public through a video posted by ‘The Last Stylebender.’ Bareman clarified these remarks in his interview with Submission Radio.
Du Plessis and Adesanya have a difference of opinion due to comments made by the South African fighter about Adesanya and the former welterweight and heavyweight champions, Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou. Du Plessis claimed to be the real ‘African’ fighter based on his residence and training gym being in Africa, while Adesanya resides in New Zealand, and Usman and Ngannou live in the USA.
Israel Adesanya hints to give title shot to winner of Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa bout
With Strickland getting the title shot over Du Plessis, Adesanya has come forward and said that Khamzat Chimaev would get the nod over Du Plessis if the Chechen fighter is victorious in UFC 294 against Adesanya’s former foe, Paolo Costa.
‘Borz’ and ‘Tarzan’ have trained together in the past. Costa and Adesanya had a heated rivalry that reached its climax when Adesanya knocked out Costa at UFC 253. It remains to be seen what the promotion will look forward to after UFC 293.
The Middleweight division has had a scarcity of elite wrestlers at the top for quite some time now. With the arrival of Khamzat Chimaev, Bo Nickal, and Ikram Aliskerov, the landscape is changing. After Anderson Silva’s long reign, the belt passed through the hands of Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping, and Robert Whitaker before reaching Israel Adesanya.
Khamzat is also considered one of the superstars in the UFC. If he emerges victorious against Costa at UFC 294, the likelihood of him leapfrogging Dricus Du Plessis is very high. This could be the reason why Adesanya and Bareman believe that Du Plessis won’t be the next in line for a title shot after UFC 293.
