Dricus Du Plessis has quickly risen to fame in the UFC, becoming the middleweight champion after just six wins. His popularity has skyrocketed, especially with his ongoing feud with former champion Israel Adesanya. They are set to clash at the UFC 305. What is the main reason behind their rivalry? Their ethnicity. So, let’s dive into Du Plessis’ nationality and ethnicity to see what’s fueling his beef with ‘Izzy.’
‘Stillknocks’ was born on January 14, 1994, in Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa, to Japie and Gerda Du Plessis. He grew up with his two brothers, Neil and WC Du Plessis, who were both successful in their respective careers. Meanwhile, Dricus made his mark in MMA. Raised and trained in South Africa, Du Plessis climbed the ranks with his epic finishes, eventually bringing the UFC belt back home.
Right after his championship win, ‘Stillknocks’ called out Adesanya, sparking the ‘Real African’ debate. There is speculation that Du Plessis has French ancestry, but he is all about his South African pride, representing his country on the global stage. He doesn’t consider Adesanya a “real African” because Izzy doesn’t live in Africa. At the UFC 305 pre-fight press conference, Du Plessis claimed he was the ‘Real African’ because he lived and trained in South Africa.
Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya at UFC 305: The Battle to Crown The True African King
As mentioned earlier, the drama began at UFC 290 when Du Plessis and Adesanya squared off in a face-off that set the stage for this showdown. Now, it’s fight night, and Du Plessis is coming in hot with a nine-fight winning streak, having taken down Darren Till, Derek Brunson, and Robert Whittaker and snagging his title from Sean Strickland earlier this year.
Adesanya has been off the scene since dropping the belt to Strickland in September 2023, but now he is returning with one goal: reclaiming his 185 lbs title. If ‘Izzy’ pulls it off, he will become a three-time middleweight champ. The big question: will he seize the crown again at Perth or stumble in his mission to prove he’s the true South African in the game? For that, fans will have to watch their upcoming UFC 305 bout.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
Also Read: Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Goes Viral For His Shocking Correction Of Fighters
