DRICUS DU PLESSIS LOCKED CAREER BEST, SAYS ISRAEL ADESANYA

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UFC middleweight Dricus du Plessis looked career-best against Kamaru Usman, according to his longtime rival, Israel Adesanya.

Du Plessis defeated Usman via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City this past Saturday. It was an impressive performance by du Plessis, who got back into the win column nearly one year after losing the UFC middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev in a blowout at UFC 319.

It was such a good performance by du Plessis, according to Adesanya, that it may have been the best he’s ever looked in his entire MMA career, which is impressive given he is a former UFC middleweight champion and has two wins over current champ Sean Strickland.

Israel Adesanya Praises Dricus du Plessis

Taking to his YouTube channel, Adesanya showered praise on du Plessis for his dominant showing against Usman at UFC Oklahoma City.

“It’s the best I’ve seen Dricus look. He looked less out of position when he finished punching, when he initiated punching. Sometimes he still did his thing, but he looked really good. Some of the shots he was throwing, the selection, and the timing of the knee for that single-leg, that was a good chess move from their team,” Adesanya said (via MMAFighting.com).

“I wanted Kamaru to get it done, but again, it just shows how good Dricus is. And good on him.”

DDP’s Win Good for African MMA

By putting on an excellent show for the fans — DDP vs. Usman won Fight of the Night at UFC Oklahoma City — Adesanya believes that it just further strengthens African MMA, as all of these fighters were born in Africa and are among the best mixed martial artists in the world.

“It’s good for us anyway. Just for African MMA. Because off this — every time one of these happens, look, another two African fighters fight in the main event, the whole continent is going to watch. Even though it’s just a Fight Night, they’re still gonna watch and support. I think this is just going to expand the talent pool in African MMA more. And I look forward to it,” Adesanya said.

- Adam Martin

ISLAM MAKHACHEV SENDS DEFIANT DIRECT MESSAGE TO JACK DELLA MADDALENA FOLLOWING UFC 315 TITLE WIN

Islam Makhachev’s next fight has finally become clear following UFC 315 this past Saturday.

In the UFC 315 main event in Montreal on Saturday, Jack Della Maddalena dethroned Belal Muhammad to become the new welterweight champion after a five round war.

Following the fight, Muhammad was trolled by Dricus Du Plessis, the UFC middleweight champion, after Belal Muhammad previously hinted at a future move up to 185lbs.

Ahead of the UFC 315 main event, UFC boss Dana White claimed that the result would determine both Islam Makhachev’s and Ilia Topuria’s next fights, as the two were linked to fight each other but Makhachev continued to remain hopeful of moving up in weight.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Islam Makhachev sends Jack Della Maddalena a defiant message

Islam Makhachev was in an awkward position coming into the welterweight title fight as Muhammad is his teammate so he was supporting him, however, he knew ‘Remember The Name’ stood in his way.

Immediately after Della Maddalena’s win in the main event, the Russian took to social media to declare his next fight will come against the Australian, stating that his plan to become double champion is on.

Although Della Maddalena isn’t teammates with Alexander Volkanovski, the two are close friends, and in his Octagon interview, the Australian stated that he wants to beat Makhachev for Volkanovski, after he suffered two losses to the Russian.

“You are not Volkanovski, I will show you different levels. Keep my belt clean,” Makhachev told Della Maddalena in a post on social media.

Volkanovski and Makhachev first fought in 2023 at UFC 284 when Makhachev very narrowly picked up the unanimous decision win in what was an extremely close fight.

Jack Della Maddalena responds to Islam Makhachev

With Della Maddalena completely open to fighting the lightweight champion in his first title defense, he issued his response to Makhachev in the UFC 315 post-fight press conference.

“Come and get it, come get it,” Della Maddalena responded to Makhachev.

Makhachev revealed earlier this week that he won’t be vacating his 155lb title in pursuit of the second belt and it is still unclear when he may return to the Octagon with his opponent now clear.

- Jamie Theodosi

MIDDLEWEIGHT| KNOCKDOWN LANDED

 

SEAN STRICKLAND OCTAGON INTERVIEW

SEAN STRICKLAND THOUGHT FIGHTING ADESANYA WOULD BE DIFFICULT |

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS - STRICKLAND STUNS ADESANYA TO SNATCH UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CROWN

USA TODAY Sports 

Underdog Sean Strickland pulled off a stunning upset to defeat Israel Adesanya and claim the UFC middleweight title at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, winning by unanimous decision on the judges' scorecards after an enthralling five-round battle.

American Strickland taunted Adesanya in the closing seconds of the final frame, confident of victory after 25 minutes of stalking his opponent, defending brilliantly and using his boxing to force Adesanya to fight off the back foot.

Adesanya, who has ruled the roost as middleweight champ for most of the last four years, failed to find a way to break Strickland down and the 34-year-old Nigerian was caught several times by stiff jabs from Strickland that slowed him down.

UFC CHAMP ISRAEL ADESANYA'S EX-GIRLFRIEND WANTS HALF OF HIS FORTUNE