Africa Won Tonight, Say Adesanya and Du Plessis
In a historic first, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hosted an all-African title bout between Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. The event was filled with tension and drama, but in the end, the two fighters put aside their differences and celebrated their shared African heritage.
Adesanya, the Nigerian-born New Zealander, and Du Plessis, the South African, engaged in a captivating main event that saw Du Plessis submit Adesanya to retain his middleweight title. The loss was Adesanya’s first in the UFC, and it marked a significant milestone in his career.
In a post-fight interview, Adesanya reflected on the encounter and the rivalry that had built up between the two fighters. “There was a South African guy in my taxi. And he said: ‘You know, when you and Dricus fight, even if you win or he wins, I feel like I win’,” Adesanya said. “And I said ‘exactly’. And then we took a picture, it was a beautiful moment.”
Du Plessis also spoke about the significance of the event, referencing former South African president and activist Nelson Mandela. “Izzy and I won’t be friends because on a personal level we don’t see eye to eye but warrior to warrior, after spending that time in the octagon with him, you can’t not respect that man,” Du Plessis said. “To give him that jacket was a token of appreciation, a thank you for this memory. Win or lose I was going to give him the jacket as reminder of an all-African main event.”
The UFC is considering hosting an event in Africa next year, according to UFC executive David Shaw. Shaw referenced UFC 304 in Manchester last month, which took place through the night and early morning to serve an American audience. He said a pay-per-view event in South Africa would likely mirror the event in Manchester because of similar time zones in the country.
The UFC has yet to host an event in Africa, but the organization is eager to make it happen. Shaw said the UFC is targeting a few different countries and is planning to announce more details in the coming months.
In the end, Adesanya and Du Plessis put aside their differences and celebrated their shared African heritage. The event was a historic moment for the UFC and a testament to the power of sport to bring people together.
