Clash of Titans Looming: Adesanya vs. Du Plessis at UFC 300
In a stunning twist of fate, UFC 300’s main event was on the verge of taking a drastic turn, courtesy of Israel Adesanya’s recent revelations.
During a candid interview on This Past Weekend with Theo Von, the former middleweight champion dropped a bombshell, disclosing that he had entertained the idea of a championship clash with Dricus Du Plessis for the monumental April 13 event. However, Adesanya revealed that the reigning 185-pound titleholder had declined the proposed fight, leading to a reshuffling of the event’s headline bout.
Adesanya shared his insights during the podcast episode posted on Tuesday, reflecting, “There were certain things that were meant to happen. They reached out to me. They reached out to me for 300, and I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’ but their side wasn’t interested.”
Amidst weeks of swirling speculations and rampant rumors, the UFC eventually unveiled a different plan for UFC 300. Adesanya’s former nemesis, Alex Pereira, was slated to defend his 205-pound title against former champion Jamahal Hill in the event’s featured bout.
The proposed showdown between Adesanya and Du Plessis had been brewing since September, during Adesanya’s reign as the middleweight champion. However, Du Plessis’s unavailability due to injury thwarted the realization of the highly anticipated matchup. Consequently, Adesanya locked horns with Sean Strickland instead, succumbing to a unanimous decision loss. Post-fight, Adesanya opted for an indefinite hiatus to recuperate from a series of nagging injuries.
Subsequently, Du Plessis seized the title from Strickland in a captivating showdown in January at UFC 297, clinching a split decision victory. Reflecting on the matchup, Adesanya speculated, “Du Plessis had just tangled with Strickland, so perhaps he was nursing some minor injuries, but hey, injuries are a part of the game.”
Although the UFC has refrained from confirming Du Plessis’s first title defense against Adesanya, the potential matchup remains a tantalizing prospect, contingent upon the former champion’s health and readiness to return to action.
Notably, the UFC has yet to stage an event in Africa, a continent teeming with MMA talent and passionate fans. UFC president Dana White expressed his belief in January that Du Plessis would be a fitting choice to headline the UFC’s inaugural event in Africa, given his status as the reigning champion.
With Adesanya and Du Plessis both hailing from the African continent—Adesanya from Nigeria and Du Plessis from South Africa—an event featuring an all-African championship showdown would undoubtedly captivate audiences worldwide.
It’s pertinent to note that the UFC faced challenges in organizing an event in Africa despite boasting three African champions—Adesanya, Kamaru Usman from Nigeria, and Francis Ngannou from Cameroon—in the past.
