Dricus du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya UFC fight begins Anoda Nigeria and South Africa rivalry

Nigerians and South Africans continued to exchange views on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which took place early Sunday between Du Plessis of South Africa and Israel Adesanya of Nigeria.

We have started the current joke and trend on social media saying that Du Plessis defeated Isreal Adesanya to retain his UFC title.

Nigeria and South Africa are rivals in many areas, especially martial arts and football.

The rivalry between politics, business and the entertainment industry is unlikely to end anytime soon.

South Africans say Dricus du Plessis defeated Israel Adesanya in the fourth round of the Ogbonge contest to retain his middleweight title at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.

According to a UFC tweet, Dricus Du Plessis will become champion and defend his title.

While South Africans are bashing Nigerians on social media, some Nigerians are expressing mixed feelings.

Although some Nigerians believe Israel has lost the battle, they still celebrate the Nigerian star.

The 30-year-old South African shook Nigerian-born New Zealander Adesanya with a right hook before pulling him to the ground and applying a chokehold from behind.

Following the contest, Du Plessis paid tribute to Adesanya as the two settled their differences after a heated argument that led to much attention being drawn to the fight.

“To share this Octagon with a legend… this man has done so much for this sport and I am truly sorry that I could be shown disrespect. I am not from Africa – that was not my intention at all. Africa won tonight anyway,” said Du Plessis.

“It is not an honor for me to share this cage with a legend like that. I have the utmost respect for myself, an ultimate warrior. Believe me, I don't want that man to kick me again.”

The competition experienced a bitter upswing after Du Plessis said he was the “first real African champion”, clarifying that he lived on the continent while former champions Adesanya, Kamaru Usman (both born in Nigeria) and Francis Ngannou, who grew up in Cameroon and moved to France, had moved elsewhere.

Du Plessis, who joins the UFC in 2020, wins the title from Sean Strickland in January and defends his belt for the first time.

Meanwhile, former UFC middleweight champion Adesanya is fighting for the first time in 11 months after taking a break from the sport due to mental and physical exhaustion after competing in five title fights in a 16-month period.

The two fighters look relaxed as they enter the octagon while Adesanya dances into the RAC Arena.

Meanwhile, Du Plessis lined up with Springbok greats Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi after South Africa beat Australia 30-12 for Perth the previous day.

In the first round, both fighters are successful: Adesanya dodges Du Plessis' lightning attacks and lands a powerful right hook to the body. The South African responds with leg kicks.

Du Plessis used his wrestling to the fullest in the second round, knocking Adesanya down three times.

The two-time champion begins to fend off submission attempts well as he gets back to his feet.

Then the momentum shifts in Adesanya's favor as Du Plessis begins to breathe heavily from repeated hooks to his body, and a striking elbow strike is the climax of many strikes.

But the South African has the last word, tripping Adesanya up twice with two hooks in the fourth round, thus ending the fight for the ground for me.

After the fight, the two show each other respect, they hug and shake hands, after much back and forth, Adesanya raises Du Plessis' hand to symbolize his victory.

“I'm fighting one of the best, if not the best, strikers of all time in this division, I really need that takedown. At this level, it's hard to keep Pipo down and this man is the master of getting back up,” said Du Plessis.

“I would say I'm coming here to die for this belt, and I'm alive right now and there's no bonus for me. And I would say I'll kill people if I have to. Luckily, we don't have to do any of the things we do. See you here, still champion, baby.”

Meanwhile, Adesanya, whose attempt to become a three-time UFC middleweight champion for the first time failed, said he would come back despite suffering two consecutive losses for the first time in his MMA career.

“I'm disappointed in myself, but at the same time I'm proud. This isn't the best I've ever felt, the best I've ever seen. I just fought the man who outboxed me tonight and I have my respect for that,” Adesanya said.

“I know all of you want to see me down and lose, but look at this – I'm not going anyway.”

In previous fights, Scottish-born Australian Casey O'Neill defeated Brazilian Luana Santos by unanimous decision, ending his two-fight losing streak.

O'Neill is 26 years old and is celebrating his 50th birthday by copying the style of Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn from the Paris Olympics.

Gunn – we see her as B-Girl Raygun – went viral during the Games earlier this month, and she said the criticism she received for her performance was “devastating.”

Meanwhile, videos show Georgian bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili confronting outsiders at an event in Las Vegas on Friday.

The video shows Dvalishvili, who challenges American Sean O'Malley for the title at UFC 306 next month, jumping over the railing, running up the stairs to the fan and grabbing his head before a security guard carries him away.

Nigeria and South Africa often compete on topics such as sports and entertainment, but beauty pageants are no longer among them.

In men's football, Nigeria and South Africa plan to host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Ivory Coast in early 2024.