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Dricus Du Plessis desires to be UFC champion, and it doesn’t matter to him if he has to undergo Israel Adesanya or another person.
With a win over Robert Whittaker this Saturday at UFC 290, Du Plessis would enhance to 6-0 in his UFC profession and presumably grow to be the No. 1 contender within the middleweight division. A championship bout between he and Adesanya appears tailored given the deeply personal war of words they’ve been concerned in over current months.
However first there’s the matter of beating Whittaker, a activity that Du Plessis is treating with the utmost respect, whether or not or not it ends in him difficult Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia, in September.
“That is my third battle in seven months, so I’ve been turning round and getting these fights in to climb this ladder,” Du Plessis mentioned at UFC 290 media day. “If I’m bodily succesful, if there’s no drawback for me to start out my battle camp and be prepared for that title battle, no drawback in any respect, I’ll be prepared.
“However I’m not even contemplating that once I get into the cage with Robert Whittaker. I’m prepared to take a limb off and this be the final battle of my life to beat Robert Whittaker with that piece of limb. I’m not even excited about this title battle proper now, I’m excited about Robert Whittaker, and I suppose they’ll resolve if I’m No. 1 contender or not.”
The timing of Adesanya’s subsequent title protection has created a murky contender image because it’s assumed that the New Zealand-based champion would wish to defend his belt in neighboring Australia. Forward of the Sept. 10 pay-per-view date, names like Du Plessis, Sean Strickland, and previous title challenger Jared Cannonier have saved themselves within the combine, although the middleweight title challenger spot stays open.
An Adesanya vs. Du Plessis grudge match seemingly leads the UFC’s checklist of fascinating matchups, however Du Plessis couldn’t care much less if Adesanya remains to be on the high of the mountain as soon as he earns his championship alternative.
“We are able to actually type out all of that, and on the finish of the day, it’s not my name. It’s the UFC’s name,” Du Plessis mentioned. “However there received’t be any denying me because the No. 1 contender after I beat Rob. However yeah, if that’s the way in which they wish to do it, if it’s not doable for me bodily to battle in Sydney, if there’s damage or should you get extraordinarily unhealthy cuts there’s no method, then you definately’re out for a pair, you by no means know what occurs on this sport.
“Like I mentioned, it doesn’t trouble me. On the finish of the day, I don’t wish to battle Izzy. I wish to battle the man with the belt. Whether or not it’s Izzy, whether or not it’s Strickland, I don’t care. For me, it’s about combating whoever has that title to grow to be the champion.”
Whittaker stays a possible title challenger too, regardless of already having misplaced a pair of championship fights in opposition to Adesanya. At media day, Whittaker speculated that due to his pedigree, he’s combating to maintain his spot whereas Du Plessis has little to lose.
It’s an analysis of the matchup stakes that Du Plessis vehemently disagrees with.
“I don’t know what he means, I’ve all the things to lose,” Du Plessis mentioned. “What do you imply? I’ve constructed up this report, I’m combating for No. 1, to be No. 1 on the planet, to be the champion, the world champion. In fact I’ve one thing to lose. I’ve all the things to lose. I’m right here to win. I’m right here to be the UFC middleweight champion of the world and I’ve to get by way of Robert Whittaker, which is a really, very tall order, however I’m ready to do no matter it takes to beat Robert Whittaker and get my shot at combating for that title.
“However ‘nothing to lose?’ That is mindless.”
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