UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis joins the host of other fighters who lack faith in Israel Adesanya ever making a comeback.
Nigerian fighter Israel Adesanya recently lost to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. This was his third loss in a row, and many believe the fighter may not recover from these consecutive losses. Despite comments from naysayers, Adesanya said he would continue to fight, but he doubts he will ever fight for gold again, and Du Plessis agrees with this new mindset.
Plessis revealed that he respects Israel Adesanya and believes the fighter has had a good career, but he doesn’t believe he will be a top contender for gold again.
“For Izzy, I don’t think there’s another title run,” Du Plessis said during UFC 312 media day on Wednesday. “With all due respect. I think his legacy is cemented and will always be there, and whatever he feels like doing, he can do. I put him in the same category as Anderson Silva at this stage of, lose as many fights as you want. You’ll always have your legacy.
“Anderson Silva, after his reign ended, I don’t care how many times he lost. He was still my GOAT. He was still the greatest middleweight of all time,” Du Plessis continued. “And I feel like Izzy is in that area, where whatever you decided to do – take super fights here or there if you want to, if you still have the passion for it.”
Du Plessis submitted Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth last August. He’s back Down Under this week to defend the middleweight belt again, this time against the man he snatched the belt from 13 months ago, Sean Strickland.
The Nigerian-New Zealander, meanwhile, is planning on taking some time away from the cage to rest and recuperate, before assessing his next step on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.
