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'THAT'S A FACT'
Dricus Du Plessis REFUSES to retract ‘real’ African fighter comment as Israel Adesanya grudge match at UFC 305 looms
The South African slugger has doubled down on the comments
DRICUS DU PLESSIS won't walk back on his comments that drew the ire of Israel Adesanya and several others.
The South African makes the first defence of his middleweight title against the former long-reigning champion early on Sunday morning in a Perth grudge match over 18 months in the making.
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The bad blood between the UFC 305 main eventers has been boiling ever since Du Plessis' dubbed himself "the African fighter” in MMA's top promotion.
He also suggested, inadvertently or not, that Kamaru Usman, Adesanya and Francis Ngannou's respective claiming of the welter, middle and heavyweight belts weren't true victories for the continent, asking: "Did those belts ever go to Africa?"
Those comments - as well as his vow to be the "real" African champion after his debut in 2020 - didn't sit well with Adesanya and laid the foundations for this weekend's Perth punch-up.
Du Plessis insists it was never his intention to discredit the respective heritages of the trio of African-born champions who came before him.
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But the 30-year-old - who proudly resides and trains on the continent - won't be retracting his comments anytime soon.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport, DDP said: "If I could take time back, I would say exactly the same because I stated the facts.
“I 100 per cent stated the fact that I am the African fighter that resides in Africa.
“And I want to be the first champion that was African-born, African-raised, African-trained and still resides in Africa.
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“And taking that back would make no sense because that’s a fact."
Du Plessis insists he doesn't see himself as any more African than Usman, Adesanya and Ngannou, he's just proud of the fact he's achieved his dreams from the continent.
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“I’m not taking anything away from their heritage," the former two-weight EFC champion said. "Or saying they’re not African.
“Not at all. But they don’t reside in Africa and that’s facts.
"They didn’t train in Africa, they didn’t get their expertise of fighting in Africa.
“That’s where I get mine. My coaches, my team, everybody is African. So, yeah, I will not take it back.
“And I will always stand by it because it will always be the fact.”
Du Plessis and Adesanya's eagerly-anticipated meeting is a historic moment for African MMA as it will be the first time two fighters from the continent will headline a UFC event.
The magnitude of the moment isn't lost on fan favourite Adesanya, who will bid to become a three-time ruler of the talent-rich 185lbs division.
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The Last Stylebender said: “Beating Dricus is more important to me than getting the belt back.
"This fight is about history.”
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