“Get your sh*t together first” – Dricus Du Plessis takes command of middleweight division and sidelines Israel Adesanya for Sean Strickland title fight

Dricus Du Plessis has risen as a strong middleweight contender, briefly sidelining former champ Israel Adesanya for a title shot against Sean Strickland.

“Get your sh*t together first” – Dricus Du Plessis takes command of middleweight division and sidelines Israel Adesanya for Sean Strickland title fight

Dricus Du Plessis sparks speculation of a title bout against Sean Strickland (Image via Imago)

Dricus Du Plessis has emerged as a formidable contender in the middleweight division. He made a strong statement by temporarily sidelining the former champion, Israel Adesanya, for a title shot against Sean Strickland. Du Plessis’ recent performance at UFC 290 clearly propelled him into a prominent position.

Sean Strickland defeating Adesanya at UFC 293 marks a significant shift in the division’s landscape. Du Plessis’s hope for a title fight against Sean Strickland for the middleweight championship signifies a fresh and exciting direction for the middleweight division. It will usher in a new change in the division.

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The South African posted on X, “Me &@SStricklandMMA had the biggest upsets of 2023 so let’s settle this like men I’m ready. After that @stylebender can get a hiding in Africa I don’t want to fight the amateur that fought on Sat I want to beat the best Adysanya, take some time and get your shit together first.”

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Interestingly, Du Plessis believes that Israel Adesanya had an off-night at UFC 293. The former was the original opponent for Adesanya at UFC 293. However, a foot injury he suffered at UFC 290 forced him to pull out. Du Plessis defeated Robert Whitaker at UFC 290. The South African was a 3 to 1 underdog in the fight, which he won by TKO in round 2. Dana White hinted in the post-fight press conference that “Stillknocks” shouldn’t have pulled out of the title fight.

Du Plessis is not guaranteed a title shot. There is a big chance that the winner of Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paolo Costa could be next for the champion. Jared Cannonier, who was the backup for UFC 293, is also a possibility. Interestingly, Cannonier defeated Strickland in a controversial split decision in a fight night main event on December 18, 2022.

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When Israel Adesanya faced off against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290

Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis face off at UFC 290
Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis face off at UFC 290 (Image via NZ Herald)

UFC 290 was headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez. Volkanovski unified the title with a TKO victory in the third round. Rodriguez had won the interim title at UFC 284 against Josh Emmet. Vokanovski fought a close fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 for the title, but he fell short.

The featured bout on the main card was Dricus Du Plessis vs. Robert Whitaker. Donald Trump was cageside with Dana White at UFC 290 to watch the fight. Du Plessis shocked the arena with his victory. The masterful performance even got the applause of the former US President.

Shortly after the victory, he faced off with Israel Adesanya inside the octagon. Critics criticized Adesanya for using racial slurs against Du Plessis. This action was termed race baiting by Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Moreover, the beef between Du Plessis and Adesanya was very heated.

The beef stemmed from Du Plessis, who is Caucasian and claimed to be more African than Adesanya. The South African further clarified his comments, which were then accepted as be true. Du Plessis was referring to Adesanya who lives and trains in New Zealand, and himself, who resides in South Africa.

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