Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya explained why he shed tears during the press conference ahead of his fight with Dricus Du Plessis.
In August 2024, at UFC 305, Du Plessis defeated Adesanya with a submission in the fourth round to retain the championship title. During the press conference before the fight, the South African fighter claimed he was the only real champion from Africa because Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria, moved to New Zealand as a child. At the end of the event, Adesanya could not hold back his tears.
People were like, ‘Ah, he [Du Plessis] made you cry’. He didn’t make me cry. Okay, I’ll tell you what it is. I was talking about my mom. I saw my mom in the front [row] and she kind of welled up. When mom welled up, it hit me in the feels.
Adesanya last stepped into the octagon in February 2025 against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250. This fight, which was stopped in the second round, ended in a technical knockout loss for Israel.
Adesanya made his UFC debut in February 2018, defeating Rob Wilkinson by technical knockout in the second round. He currently has a record of 24 wins and five losses.
