Morning Report: Dricus du Plessis believes Israel Adesanya win puts him in GOAT conversation: ‘I belong here’
Dricus du Plessis expects to take his legacy to the next level with his first title defense.
The UFC middleweight title returns to Australia for UFC 305 in the city of Perth when the South African champion du Plessis gets his long-awaited grudge match. For his first title defense, “Sillknocks” will be challenged by former two-time champion Israel Adesanya on Aug. 17.
Tension quickly developed between the elite 185-pounders in 2023 before they nearly met at UFC 293 this past September. Unfortunately for du Plessis, injuries sustained in his big upset win over Robert Whittaker the previous summer prevented his turnaround and led him down a different route to the title while Adesanya lost in his absence. When they finally meet in the octagon, South Africa’s finest sees himself joining a historic conversation.
“I’ve always looked at Israel Adesanya as the benchmark,” du Plessis told Fox West Texas. “Now, ‘Izzy’ became a champion a long time ago, and I’ve looked at him and always knew this is where I need to be if I ever want to be the best in the world. This is the benchmark.
“He is one of the greatest to ever do it, and this fight for me is going to put me in that position. This is where I take over as one of the greatest to ever do it. This is where my years of building and climbing that ladder is going to a point where I am now the guy that’s one of the greatest to ever do it.”
Anderson Silva will forever be the pinnacle for longtime MMA fans as middleweight’s insurmountable best ever with his 10 title defenses and record 16 straight wins in the UFC. However, Adesanya’s interim title, five-defense run, and reclaiming of his crown have put him at No. 2 all-time for most.
The 30-year-old du Plessis can get well on his way to climbing the list by extending his current UFC win streak to eight (10 overall). A win for du Plessis (21-2) would be his third straight against a current or former UFC middleweight title holder.
“He’s a very smart fighter,” du Plessis said on Adesanya. “He figures out his opponents, and he sets a lot of traps. He does it incredibly well. So, for me, this fight is just like how beating Robert Whittaker was. It’s a fight that people don’t think you’re going to win. It’s a hard fight.
“I’m fighting against arguably one of the greatest middleweights ever, and I have to go out there and prove that I am that guy. That’s what this fight is going to mean to me. It’s going to mean I told you I belong here. This fight is going to mean that Dricus du Plessis is now in the conversation of being one of the greatest middleweights ever.”
TOP STORIES
Accusation. Ian Machado Garry accuses Michael Page of trying to bribe coach for information
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Ultimatum. Alexa Grasso plans to fight at Noche UFC with or without Valentina Shevchenko
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Answer. Frankie Edgar admits ‘it’s still in me’ to want to fight again but ‘I’m not plotting no comeback’
LET’S WATCH
Between the Links.
UFC 303 Pre-Fight Presser.
Shogun and Coleman.
Alexa Grasso Noche UFC Announcement Media Scrum.
Embedded 4.
PFL Fight Week.
Full fights.
Poatan BTS.
Aspinall’s fight camp.
Almighty fight camp.
Wonderboy predicts.
LISTEN UP
No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew and Conner Burks discuss if Jiri Prochazka will get short-notice revenge on Alex Pereira at UFC 303.
MORNING MUSIC
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!
SOCIAL SCROLL DOWN
Get ‘em, Dan.
You can officially kiss my ass I’m fighting Charlie olives https://t.co/mNpuracTKY
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) June 27, 2024
Let’s slow it down a bit now.
.@PaytonTalbott didn't hold back on the top bantamweights #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/Kp9vCjtFRI
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 26, 2024
Nasty. Late.
Carlos Hernandez returns this Saturday against Rei Tsuruya. I still can't forget when he destroyed Denys Bondar in this brutal way. In the end he won by technical decision because there was a clash of heads. #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/SIuZSA9g6t
— Haduucken (@Haduuuucken) June 27, 2024
Chama.
Alex Pereira vibing before the #UFC303 presser pic.twitter.com/tz5BVqqxPO
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 27, 2024
Denisa.
Ready for his moment ⚔️#UFC303 | @Jiri_BJP pic.twitter.com/B0cHJyv8Ca
— UFC (@ufc) June 27, 2024
Dang.
So no trip ?? pic.twitter.com/QQtP1OzU6Y
— Kevin Holland (@Trailblaze2top) June 27, 2024
Wholesome.
Ian Machado Garry's son met Michael "Venom" Page after the presser #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/JHnyK1U81r
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 27, 2024
Strickland thoughts.
I never understand why fighters post pics of them smoking a joint like they're in middle school...
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) June 28, 2024
"Hey look at me I'm high, I wanna take a nap and eat snacks" lmao
What is the message you're trying to get across?
Progress.
Shara Bullet is here at the UFC Hall of Fame.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 28, 2024
I'm told by his manager @AliAbdelaziz00 that there is nothing preventing Shara from competing in the United States and that he had a great meeting with Dana White this week. pic.twitter.com/kz45qc0Ok8
Prediction.
Beneil Dariush sees Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan as a "60/40 or 55/45" fight in favor of Makhachev. pic.twitter.com/FM95kNPoOD
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 28, 2024
Champ.
Alexandre Pantoja loves to see fans defend the flyweight division
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 28, 2024
"'Shut your mouth you casual, you don’t understand anything.' That’s how I feel too." pic.twitter.com/HrcHwIh4Ud
More chama.
"Chama!"
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 27, 2024
Dana White said Alex Pereira's catchphrase #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/Knwlc2Xfqs
Legend.
No crying, fight fans
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 28, 2024
The legend Shogun Rua enters the #UFCHOF pic.twitter.com/DSqpzMC5si
The Rua Brothers pic.twitter.com/FBNpmrZINP
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 28, 2024
Joanna.
#UFCHOF pic.twitter.com/jQ06SQgZpi
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 28, 2024
Thanks for the fights, Joanna Champion! #UFCHOF pic.twitter.com/Hqapc8SJqj
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 28, 2024
Classic.
Somehow Chael landed this thing. Still undefeated #UFCHOF pic.twitter.com/hI13CsbhjW
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 28, 2024
Still undefeated on the streets of West Linn, Oregon #UFCHOF pic.twitter.com/FZ0NXcLoqr
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 28, 2024
Axe-Murderer.
The Axe Murderer looks good in that jacket #UFCHOF pic.twitter.com/0qwDsOkGxi
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 28, 2024
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Miranda Maverick (13-5) vs. Dione Barbosa (7-2); UFC Vegas 94, July 20
Christian Leroy Duncan (10-1) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (15-5); UFC 304, July 27
Mohammad Yahya (12-4) vs. Kauê Fernandes (8-2); UFC Abu Dhabi, Aug. 3
Stephanie Luciano (5-1-1) vs. Talita Alencar (5-0-1); UFC Vegas 95, Aug. 10
Roman Kopylov (13-3) vs. Brunno Ferreira (12-1); UFC Vegas 96, Aug. 24
Jessica Andrade (26-12) vs. Natália Silva (17-5-1); UFC Vegas 97, Sept. 7
William Gomis (13-2) vs. Joanderson Brito (17-3-1); UFC Paris, Sept. 28
FINAL THOUGHTS
An Adesanya win would obviously be great for du Plessis’ resume. It would be more impressive if he ended Adesanya’s title reign and Adesanya wasn’t coming off a loss, but that’s not his fault. It feels weird to determine where he’d rank all time. It’s been a short span. I think personally Top 15 sounds right. I’d have to think harder about the rest though.
Happy Friday, gang. Enjoy your weekend. Thanks for reading and we’ll see you on Monday!
EXIT POLL
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