Israel Adesanya recently claimed that he had agreed to fight Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 300, but that the current middleweight champion had decided not to go ahead with it, and now he’s explained why.
“With the conversations of 300, that would’ve been a massive fight with me and Izzy,” Du Plessis said on Cameron Saaiman’s ‘MSP Show.’ “It was on the table, 100 percent, but one thing people don’t realize is why would I go and start a camp once again, injured, if I am the champion?
“Taking risks is one thing. I have been taking risks a lot, but why would I risk? I’m the champion now, and I can fight when I’m ready. I think Izzy misjudges himself as still being a champion, and he’s not. You will fight when you get the opportunity. You don’t dictate when I fight.”
With UFC 300 off the table, du Plessis is now focused on fighting Adesanya at a still-to-be-confirmed event in Africa.
“The fight’s going to happen,” Du Plessis said. “He’s been a big mouth about coming to South Africa and dragging carcasses. I mean, that’s what he said. So, be a man of your word. Step up, do it. Let’s make UFC Africa, let’s make that happen. Obviously, that is what I would love in an ideal situation. Fighting Israel Adesanya on African and South African soil.”
