![Fans react to the interaction between Israel Adesanya (right) and Dricus du Plessis (left) during intense face-off. [Image courtesy: @ufc on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/d96b4-17200888999789-1920.jpg)
![Fans react to the interaction between Israel Adesanya (right) and Dricus du Plessis (left) during intense face-off. [Image courtesy: @ufc on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and former champion Israel Adesanya had a heated staredown following the UFC 305 press conference. The highly anticipated clash is set for Aug. 17 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Du Plessis and Adesanya reportedly exchanged words during the prolonged staredown. While the exact conversation remains unclear, du Plessis later revealed to Submission Radio what Adesanya told him:
“I think he said, ‘Don’t kiss me'... He said, 'Don’t go kissing me now.’ I said, ‘I’m no dog, so I won’t.’ I don’t know what he was saying. I wasn’t really focused on what he was saying. I didn’t say anything. You know, I’m not here to say anything to him. The date is set. There’s no need to be saying anything.” [H/t: Yahoo! Sports]
Trending
This exchange caught the attention of fans, many referencing du Plessis' post-fight celebration at UFC 297 where he shared a kiss with his coach, Morne Visser.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Social media erupted with jokes about the interaction:
“Dricus thought Izzy was his coach”
“DDP: if you're not my coach you don't get a kiss🤣🤣”
“That's why they muted the audio😂”
Check out some of the fan reactions below:
Israel Adesanya reveals mentality going into title fight at UFC 305
Israel Adesanya is setting his sights on something other than reclaiming gold in his upcoming title fight with Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305. This highly anticipated bout marks Adesanya's return after a year-long absence following his title loss to Sean Strickland in September 2023.
In a recent media appearance, Adesanya said:
“It’s about taking on the best warriors from different lands and putting them on my record. I’ve never beaten Dricus du Plessis, so beating him is what attracts me to this fight, not the belt. Those who have never been in our shoes will never understand that mindset. So yeah, f**k the belts. I’m coming for heads, and I stick with that."
Check out Israel Adesanya's comment below:
