The highly anticipated middleweight title grudge match between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis may be in jeopardy. Get the latest updates on the fight and potential replacement opponents.
The highly anticipated UFC middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis may be in jeopardy. Adesanya took to Twitter to announce that Du Plessis has injured his foot and will not be able to compete at UFC 293 in September. Adesanya expressed his disappointment and revealed that he is now considering top middleweight contender Sean Strickland as his new opponent.
Adesanya, the current middleweight champion, called out Du Plessis after his victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. Du Plessis had made comments about taking a belt to Africa, which Adesanya took offense to due to his own African heritage. The confrontation in the cage set the stage for a future title fight.
However, Du Plessis’s injury has thrown a wrench into those plans. Adesanya criticized Du Plessis for not being willing to fight through the pain, contrasting it with his own championship mentality. Adesanya emphasized that champions show up and fight regardless of any injuries they may have.
The UFC has not yet confirmed a headliner for UFC 293, which is set to take place on September 10 at Qudos Arena in Sydney. Adesanya’s most recent title defense was in April, where he knocked out Alex Pereira in a rematch to reclaim the belt.
Meanwhile, Sean Strickland has been making waves in the middleweight division with his impressive performances. He recently scored a knockout victory over Abusupiyan Magomedov at UFC Vegas 76, further solidifying his case for a title shot.
The Adesanya vs. Du Plessis matchup was highly anticipated, but with Du Plessis’s injury, it remains uncertain whether the fight will happen. Adesanya now has his sights set on Strickland as a potential replacement.
Stay tuned for further updates on the UFC 293 headliner and the status of the middleweight title fight.
Fight Summary
| Fighters | Result |
|---|---|
| Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis | In Jeopardy |
Key Points
- Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis middleweight title fight may be canceled due to Du Plessis’s foot injury
- Adesanya expresses disappointment and considers Sean Strickland as a potential replacement
- Confrontation between Adesanya and Du Plessis stemmed from comments about African heritage
- UFC 293 headliner is yet to be confirmed
- Adesanya’s most recent title defense was against Alex Pereira in April
- Sean Strickland impresses with knockout victory at UFC Vegas 76
reference: www.mmafighting.com
