Former UFC Middleweight Champion, Israel Adesanya, was visibly emotional during a recent UFC 305 pre-fight press conference, breaking down in tears amidst a heated exchange with current champion Dricus du Plessis.
The intense confrontation set the stage for their highly anticipated bout at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
The press conference took a personal turn when du Plessis targeted Adesanya with a provocative remark.
He questioned Adesanya about whether he would be “taking the servants” when traveling to Nigeria and New Zealand after the fight, referencing an interview Adesanya gave where he mentioned having “maids” in his childhood. This comment deeply upset Adesanya.
The confrontation escalated as du Plessis continued to taunt Adesanya, leading the Nigerian fighter to tear up upon seeing his family in the crowd. In an emotional response, Adesanya shared his motivation for fighting, saying, “He touched a subject there because I do it for my family, I do it for the people I love. I will fight for you forever, I swear to god.”
Adesanya continued, “Look, I am a human being, I am a man. I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time.” He further emphasized his personal struggle and family background, stating, “Shut up, you don’t know anything about my story. You have no idea who I am. My father, myself, had to wake up at 4am and clean the banks while my mum studied to be a nurse. Don’t speak of my story if you don’t know my story.”
This fight marks Adesanya’s return to the Octagon after an 11-month hiatus.
Du Plessis, who claimed in 2023 that he would become the first “real African” UFC champion, reignited tensions by reaffirming this stance during the press conference.
This added extra heat to what promises to be a historic clash.
The UFC 305 event will feature the first-ever all-African title fight in UFC history, with Adesanya seeking to become the first middleweight champion in promotion history to win the title three times.
The main event will air live on Supersport in Nigeria, with the bout scheduled to start at 3:00 AM Nigerian time.
