The fight between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya was tipped to be the main event of UFC 300. In the end, the fight didn't take place. This was due to Dricus' less-than-optimal state of fitness, and he decided to wait for another opportunity. A missed appointment that led to Adesanya's disappointment.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis confirmed on the Shadow Banned podcast that he had declined a proposal to fight Nigeria's Israel Adesanya at UFC 300. The UFC wanted the fight for Du Plessis' first title defense.
On the reason for this refusal, Du Plessis was clear. "I couldn't train, because with a broken foot, you're at a standstill. I couldn't train.So now you want me to do a six-week camp to fight at UFC 300, [against] one of the best people to ever make it. I don't think people understand what it would mean to fight at 300, to be the main event."
Speculators spoke, some of them of a proposal, financial that would have fallen short of the reigning UFC middleweight champion's expectations. "But even talking about the financial aspect, for the people who were wondering, I didn't want more money. The money they offered me was great. For me, it's a question of heritage. To go there, having played the way I did and having gone there without really being at 100 per cent..." continued the South African.
When asked why, he didn't take any risks. Here's what the man nicknamed Stillknocks had to say."I took the risk in every fight. I've been injured in a few fights, including the Whittaker fight. Let's move on to the fight. I've fought three times in seven months. That's taking a risk.Once you've got the title, you don't have to take any more risks, because it's not an opportunity, it's an opportunity for the contender, not for me. I refused to fight. It was with a heavy heart that I had to turn down UFC 300, because what an incredible privilege to headline this card,".
Many believe, however, that Du Plessis should return for his title defense at UFC 305. The event will take place in Peth, Australia. Adesanya is the bookies' favorite to meet him, who hasn't fought since September 2023, when he lost his title to Sean Strcikland. Who would later see his belt snatched away by Du Plessis. For many, the shock was only delayed.
Adesanya expressed his disappointment at not having fought on the UFC 300 bill. He had been training for 4 weeks when the poster was announced." I was heartbroken because I thought it was us... I was ready, I thought it was done, I was training."He also lamented the mentality of newcomers to the UFC."They're not built like us... myself, Alex Volkanovski, Kamaru Usman. When we were champions, shit, fight each other. F**k the belt," he said among other things.
The UFC 300 clash took place on Sunday night, April 14, between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Collin.Pereira won by1st-round knockout.
Israel Adesanya talks about how he feels that Dricus du Plessis turned down a fight at #UFC300:
“They’re not built like us… myself, Alex Volkanovski, Kamaru Usman. When we were champions, f*** it, just fight. F*** the belt.”
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 12, 2024
