Dricus du Plessis shares honest reflection on pre-fight nerves before Israel Adesanya clash: “I wouldn’t have had that any other way"

Dricus du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title against one of the division's best-ever fighters, Israel Adesanya, at UFC 305 in August. He became the first man to defeat Adesanya via submission, and 'Stillknocks' has now shared a candid reflection of his pre-fight emotions in his first title defense.

The South African surged through the UFC's middleweight division, going 6-0 after making his debut in 2020. His victory against 'The Last Stylebender' cemented him as a championship-level fighter. But according to Du Plessis, he had never been more nervous entering a fight.

The 30-year-old recently appeared on South African radio show Jacaranda FM and revisited his clash with Adesanya, saying:

"I think it was the most nervous I've ever been for a fight. You would think that fighting for the title would make you nervous. But it didn't even come close. Adesanya is a guy that, the way he fights, he can throw anything. We saw in that fight the way he kicks... He throws the kind of things that, one mistake means the fight's over."

He continued:

"With Strickland, in the first fight, of course you can get caught by anything. But his fight style is not going to surprise you with a single strike and then the fight's over... Rightfully so, Adesanya's one of the best to ever do it and he proved it. The fight went great, I couldn't have asked for a better ending... I wouldn't have had that any other way."

Catch Dricus du Plessis' comments below (0:55):

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Dricus du Plessis speaks out after Sean Strickland rematch confirmed over Khamzat Chimaev

Dricus du Plessis will face Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February in a rematch of their UFC 297 title clash. However, there were many fans who hoped that Khamzat Chimaev would be next in line to challenge du Plessis.

Chimaev recently defeated Robert Whittaker via a brutal first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 308. The Chechen-born fighter's performance left little doubt in the minds of fans about who should fight 'Stillknocks' next.

Following the UFC 312 announcement, the South African took to X and wrote:

"Just for clarification I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs. Whittaker. I'm not unhappy with the UFC's decision. Like I said, I'll fight the man fans think is the next best guy. He was promised the fight so Strickland it is."

Check out Dricus du Plessis' post below: