Daniel Cormier is anxious about the face-off between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis, likely at UFC 293. His aggravated concern is because of the tension between the two fighters, which has been building for some time now.
So, continue reading to find out exactly why Cormier thinks Adesanya cannot afford to lose to Du Plessis now!
Du Plessis established himself as the No. 1 contender after defeating former champion Robert Whittaker by second-round TKO this past Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Middleweight champion Adesanya was in attendance, hoping that Du Plessis would raise his hand after making some remarks that irritated him. Du Plessis declared that if he achieves his objective, he will be the first authentic African champion because he still trains and lives in Africa. But, Nigerian-born Adesanya, who resides in New Zealand, was enraged by Du Plessis’ statements. Ultimately he attacked him in the octagon, hurling many N-words at him while getting in his face.
Cormier explained on his YouTube channel that he had turned to Joe Rogan for more knowledge to understand why Adesanya was so upset. Rogan shared his extensive knowledge, stating that Dricus is Dutch and referred to the history of Dutch colonists in Africa and apartheid.
As soon as Cormier learned this, he sent the information to his group message. Upon the explanation, Cormier’s friends acknowledged that as they delved deeper into the issue, they could see why Adesanya was upset. They noted that initially, it appeared there was no direction behind the incident. Also, while they didn’t appreciate the use of the N-word, they understood why the three African champions would be upset when being told they are not African.
Cormier recognizes the significance of the upcoming fight but expresses concern about the potential consequences of the ongoing feud. While Adesanya has had previous rivalries with fighters like Alex Pereira, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori, Cormier believes that the bout against Du Plessis holds even greater importance.
Cormier acknowledged the unpleasant nature of the feud but emphasized that it would lead to an intense and swift fight. According to him, the fight is scheduled to take place in Australia in nine weeks, as Dricus Du Plessis did not sustain any significant damage in his previous fight. Cormier mentioned that the quick turnaround allows for a resolution to the conflict, although he believes that the historical context underlying the animosity might prevent a complete resolution.
Cormier explained that if the conflict is indeed rooted in historical issues, Izzy’s feelings towards how colonizers in Africa treated his people will persist. He speculated that a victory for Adesanya would be satisfying, but a loss, especially against Du Plessis, would be highly undesirable. Cormier stressed that losing to Du Plessis would create a challenging situation for Adesanya, as it would be the one opponent he would not want to bow down to.
So, what are your thoughts on this feud between Du Plessis and “The Last Stylebender?” Let us know in the comments!
