Dricus du Plessis fires fresh shots at Israel Adesanya in war of words

South African MMA star Dricus du Plessis wants Israel Adesanya to put up or shut up.

Du Plessis wants Adesanya to make good on his promise to fight the UFC middleweight champion on African soil.

Dricus du Plessis lines up Israel Adesanya

The champion is eager for his first defence of the title to come in South Africa.

Du Plessis called back to a threat issued by Adesanya when he was the champion.

In a recent chat with the Hustler’s Corner podcast, Du Plessis called on Adesanya to agree to a fight in Mzansi.

“So you claim you want to drag my carcass around in South Africa, as you said,” Du Plessis said.

“So be a man of your word, and let’s do it.”

After earning a UFC title shot with an eliminator win over Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis refused an immediate shot at Adesanya as he was carrying injuries.

He reputedly also refused a bout on the UFC 300 card after picking up a leg injury in his split-decision victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297.

Du Plessis says that his team are working on making the Adesanya fight happen.

He feels that the fight against Adesanya would be what the fans want to see but insists he doesn’t have a preference for his first defence of the belt.

“We are trying,” Du Plessis said. 

“We are talking, definitely. That’s what the people want to see, and that’s what I want to do. I want to fight the best guys. This is an entertaining sport.

“Who do I wanna fight? I don’t care, I’m the champion. I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me. But what I want in my heart is to fight the guy that the people want to see me fight.”

A warrior but not an idiot

Du Plessis has fired back at critics of his refusal of a UFC 300 bout.

He pointed out that as champion, it would be foolish of him to accept a fight for which he could not possibly be 100%.

“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.”