Coming off a spectacular efficiency in his knockout victory over Alex Pereira at UFC 287, Israel Adesanya gave a chilling message to an unnamed contender within the middleweight division.
Adesanya says he needs to “drag someone’s carcass across Africa” in his post-fight presser. This is coming after South African UFC middleweight Dricus Du Plessis made a press release that concerned naming himself the long run African champion of the UFC. Will Adesanya’s next UFC fight be in opposition to the upcoming South African brawler?
Does Matchmaking, Make Sense?
Du Plessis is a 29-year-old MMA fighter out of South Africa with a document of 19-2 in his skilled profession. He is presently 5-0 within the UFC, along with his final win coming over Derek Brunson in March of 2023.
After stopping Brunson within the second spherical of their bout, Du Plessis took to the mic to state his case for a middleweight title shot. Does he deserve the title shot after beating two past-primed fighters in Brunson and Darren Till?
If you have a look at the UFC middleweight rankings, Du Plessis is sitting all the best way at #6 proper now. The solely difficulty is that the champion, Adesanya, has overwhelmed the opposite 5 fighters ranked forward of him – some greater than as soon as.
Strictly taking a look at it from a advertising standpoint, this can be a cool combat to have and to host in Africa. The UFC has been discussing an occasion in Africa for years now, and so they have already missed the possibility for 3 African champions on the cardboard. Now, they’ll at the very least get an African foremost occasion with a title on the road.
Along with the symbolism of this matchup, the rivalry storyline is heating up. Adesanya needs to see Du Plessis get one other good win, however it was additionally acknowledged by Dana White himself that Adesanya is already bugging the corporate about when he can combat subsequent. Is this the combat to make?
Looking at this matchup from a technical standpoint, Adesanya is clearly the higher fighter and can almost definitely be an enormous betting favourite to open up the strains if the combat ever will get made.
Du Plessis is extra of a bodybuilder and a very good athlete that likes to combat proper now. Adesanya is a battle-tested, longtime blended martial artist with hours of expertise in fight in opposition to the very best of the very best.
Where Could This Take Place?
The first venue that comes to thoughts could be the Sun Arena Time Square in Pretoria, South Africa. This multi-purpose area was in-built 2017 and may be very stunning to have a look at, offering an important expertise for all followers.
It solely holds round 10,000 followers directly, so that’s the solely difficulty. We know that Dana White is in opposition to holding occasions in soccer stadiums for some cause, so that may be a lengthy shot to get this occasion at a soccer stadium in Africa.
Possible Outcomes
If the UFC can get an occasion achieved in Africa in 2023, it might doubtlessly be one of many largest strikes within the firm’s historical past. Africa is stuffed with potential gifted athletes that don’t have the assets or the flexibility to comply with the martial arts path and prepare.
Seeing how a lot help the African tradition would have with the UFC and their very own individuals preventing on the large stage would make the UFC need to do extra enterprise on African soil.
Along with the primary occasion, there are about ten different African fighters that may make an look on this card, together with fighters from Europe and Asia who can carry out someplace new and nearer to their properties.
The opening strains of the primary occasion would in all probability have Adesanya as at the very least a -500 betting favourite over Du Plessis. That’s the primary cause that it might be greatest if the younger South African prospect secured an enormous win over a prime 5 fighter within the middleweight division first.
ALSO READ: UFC Africa: Will it occur, when and the place?
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