The Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya fight did not happen this year despite the two's heated exchange for several months.
Fans probably do not think the fight will happen after the Stylebender decided to take a break from mixed martial arts, and Du Plessis is already tied to a bout with Sean Strickland.
Do not lose hope yet. There is no turning over the leaf for these two as remnants of their verbal feud continue to show up in their interviews.
South African Du Plessis can't help but shade the Nigerian again in an interview to preview the UFC 297 fight with Strickland.
Adesanya said he will return by 2027. Du Plessis said he deserves it, but not without following up with another shot at the two-time UFC Middleweight Champion.
"2027. Look for the return. I'll see you then," he joked with reporters.
The start of racially-charged verbal feud
Both camps are claiming that the other guy is the one who started their beef. What is sure, though, is that their conflict has a lot to do with comments about their African heritage.
Du Plessis called Adesanya a fake African because he grew up in New Zealand after transferring there from Nigeria when he was ten.
He said he would be the first true African champion, discrediting Adesanya and Ngannou's achievements in the sport's history.
Adesanya took offense at Du Plessis' claim
Stylebender, always the combative man that he is, took to X to express anger over the South African's comments, especially after Du Plessis allegedly used the race and history of South Africa to discredit him.
"Don't back play the victim... Stand on your original statement. Say it with yo chest n****!! I never discredited you as a real African, you tried to discredit three Real African UFC Champions. You started this, and I will finish this! That's not a threat, that's a promise. Gbo gbo yin ma ku!"
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Feud reached its peak
Adesanya and Du Plessis confronted each other on July 8, just moments after the latter won against Robert Whitaker at UFC 290.
Adesanya climbed the battle stage and stood face-to-face with his nemesis and
words were exchanged.
"This is my African brother right here, let's go n***a, what's up b***h?" Adesanya said.
"Let's go n***a, here n***a. Wassup n***a? Yeah, my African brother!"
Du Plessis responded: "I'm African but I ain't no brother of yours, son."
Fight planned but did not happen
The two's confrontations ripened their showdown on the octagon. They just needed to put the ink on the paper.
Alas, the fight did not happen.
Du Plessis backed out because of a foot injury, but Adesanya accused him of chickening out.
"I don't even know how to start this, but Dricus du P-y. You f-ng bitch. 'Oh, all he has to do is put on some gloves. I was ready to go again,'" he said in a video.
"No, you weren't. You're a bitch.
"That's why you're not taking this fight. Your foot's sore. N-a, my knee was jacked two weeks from my last fight. Guess what I did? I showed up. That's what a f-ng champion does. Championship caliber, built different."
Next chapter
This part could be the next chapter of their feud. Du Plessis claimed Adesanya is not the type to rest that long.
He already put forward the idea of him waiting for Adesanya. Stylebender's camp now needs to answer.
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