Israel Adesanya has already indicated he’d be happy to defend his middleweight title against Dricus Du Plessis next, and the UFC champion recently revealed he and the South African actually sparred together early in their careers.
On July 8, Dricus Du Plessis will meet Robert Whittaker on the UFC 290 card. The winner of this clash should get a fight against current middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
The “Last Stylebender” has already made it known that he would prefer to make his next title defense against the South African, rather than having a trilogy fight against Whittaker. Adesnaya and Du Plessis trained together at the start of their respective careers, during a training camp in Thailand.
“I remember that. We really practiced. Adesanya said of Du Plessis during his recent appearance on Logan Paul’s Impulsive podcast. “Training is training. I came from China. I was doing kickboxing there, I was not doing MMA. I was only kickboxing. »
“So we practiced, I don’t know if we did two rounds or just one, it was so long ago. It’s 2014… So long ago, I remember in grappling he beat me. But as for striking, I just destroyed it. »
Israel Adesanya, who reclaimed the middleweight title by defeating Alex Pereira by knockout at UFC 287, has already beaten every top-5 player in the division. Many therefore hope to see the 33-year-old fighter face the new challenge of Dricus Du Plessis, ranked number 6.
However, the “Stillknocks” will have to get rid of former division champion Robert Whittaker first. The Australian intends to dismiss Du Plessis and get the opportunity to avenge his two losses against Adesanya.
