Former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya became emotional during a UFC 305 pre-fight press conference, shedding tears during a heated exchange with current champion Dricus du Plessis.
The confrontation added intensity to their much-anticipated fight, set to take place at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Tensions flared when du Plessis made a personal remark aimed at Adesanya, referencing a past interview where Adesanya spoke of having maids during his childhood. Du Plessis asked provocatively, “Will you be taking the servants when you travel to Nigeria and New Zealand after the fight?” The comment struck a nerve with Adesanya.
The situation escalated as du Plessis continued to provoke him. Overcome with emotion upon seeing his family in the audience, Adesanya tearfully responded, 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.
