UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has hit controversial South African contender Dricus du Plessis with a racial slur, saying ‘who the f*** is this cracker to tell me who I am?’
Adesanya, 33, recently reclaimed his middleweight title after knocking out long-term rival Alex Pereira in stunning fashion at UFC 287.
It is not certain who the Nigerian-born Kiwi will fight next, but Du Plessis would be Adesanya’s first choice.
Last month, du Plessis launched a shocking outburst at the New Zealand-based champ as well as Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou and Nigerian-born American Kamaru Usman, insisting he will be the first fighter to ‘take a belt to Africa’.
‘Did those belts ever go to Africa? As far as I know, they came to America and New Zealand. I’m going to take a belt to Africa,’ he said of the titles won by the trio.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has exploded at controversial South African contender Dricus du Plessis, saying ‘who the f*** is this cracker to tell me who I am?’
Last month, du Plessis launched a shocking outburst towards Adesanya, as well as Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou and Nigerian-born American Kamaru Usman, insisting he will be the first to ‘take a belt to Africa’
‘I’m the African fighter in the UFC. Myself and Cameron [Saaiman, Du Plessis’ teammate], we breathe African air. We wake up in Africa every day.
‘We train in Africa, we’re African born, we’re African raised. We still reside in Africa, we train out of Africa. That’s an African champion, and that’s who I’ll be.’
On Wednesday, Adesanya revealed on his YouTube channel that he has already asked the UFC about fighting the undefeated South African, but Australia’s Rob Whittaker will fight Du Plessis instead for the No.1 contender position in July.
‘I’m going to f***ing take him to school, in the Octagon and on history,’ said Adesanya.
‘What he’s doing is creating divide. You can’t know your history, I have never questioned him as an African, because yeah, you were born in Africa. South Africa.
‘Of course you’re an African. I have never questioned that. But who the f**k is this cracker to tell me who the f**k I am? Who the f**k Kamaru is, who the f**k Ngannou is? I’m like, are you dumb? As a product of colonisation, you’re trying to tell me who the f**k I am.
‘You can take the boy out of Africa, but you can never take the Africa out of the boy. I never, ever did that to him. I never discredited him as an African. Okay, there you are. Cool. You want to make a fight? Cool.
‘But the fact that as a f***ing cracker, to tell me who the f**k I am, that p***ed me off, and that’s why he’s my next fight. I don’t want to fight anyone else. This one p***es me off.’
The word ‘cracker’ is a term used to describe poor white people and believed by many to be short for ‘whip cracker’.
While its origin isn’t clear-cut, some believe it’s a reference to white people who were involved in the slave trade.
Adesanya (pictured during his victory over Alex Pereira) revealed on his YouTube channel that he has already asked the UFC about a bout with the undefeated South African
Adesanya has accused the South African fighter (pictured left fighting Derek Brunson) of creating a racial divide and said he wants to ‘torture’ his rival
After reclaiming his middleweight title against Pereira, Adesanya hinted at the idea of fighting Du Plessis in his home country – and that’s something he’d still like to do if it can be arranged.
‘I tried to do it in South Africa, but apparently it might not work,’ Adesanya said.
‘But again, I told Dana, you guys beat COVID before any other big sporting league got on the field or on the court, you guys did that. You can do anything. I still believe they can. I want to do it in South Africa or somewhere in Africa.
‘Like I said, he’s created division. I don’t like that. He didn’t have to do that. He didn’t have to do that. You don’t understand, I’m here now. I’m going to f**k this guy up. I’m going to torture this guy.
‘You don’t have to create division. This is not the time for that s***. You could have definitely got the fight without talking all that s***. Well, be careful what you wish for. You got what you want. He’s next. I’m going to f***ing beat him until he’s black.’
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