“What an apset!” the South African wrote on social media. “Don’t think for a second I’m impressed but congrats to Sean Strickland for being champion and beating this Kiwi Chinese-Nigerian”
“We authored the biggest upsets in 2023 and I am without a doubt the number one contender, so let’s settle this like men whenever and wherever we can”
“After that, I will give Adesanya a well-deserved beating in my home country of South Africa. But I don’t want to beat up an amateur who fought last weekend, so get a good rest and get your shit together!”
After knocking out Robert Whittaker in a challenger fight two months ago, Dricus Du Plessis refused to fight Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney, giving up a title shot to Sean Strickland, ranked fifth in the division’s rankings.
The American, who came into the fight as a multiple underdog, eventually defeated the champion by unanimous 49-46 three round unanimous decision, knocking out the Nigerian in the first round and coming close to an early victory.
At the post-event press conference, UFC president, Dana White, announced that Israel Adesanya would get an immediate rematch, while Dricus Du Plessis hinted strongly that he should not have backed out of the title fight.