UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has slammed 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 recaptured his middleweight title after stunningly knocking out longtime rival Alex Pereira 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 shock blowout against New Zealand-based champion, Francis Ngannou of Cameroon and Nigerian-born American Kamaru Usman, insisting he would 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 blowout towards Adesanya, as well as Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou and Nigerian-born American Kamaru Usman, insisting he would be the first to “take a belt to Africa”
“I am the African fighter in the UFC. Myself and Cameron [Saaiman, Du Plessis’ teammate], we breathe African air. We wake up every day in Africa.
“We train in Africa, we were born in Africa, we were raised in Africa. We still live in Africa, we train from Africa. That’s an African champion, and that’s who I will be.’
On Wednesday, Adesanya revealed on his YouTube channel that he had already asked the UFC to fight the undefeated South African, but Australian Rob Whittaker will instead fight Du Plessis for the No. 1 ranking in July.
“I’m going to take him to goddamn school, in the Octagon and history,” Adesanya said.
“What he’s doing is divisive. You can’t know your history, I never questioned him as an African, because yes, you were born in Africa. South Africa.
‘Of course you are an African. I never wondered 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 stupid? As a product of colonization, you’re trying to tell me who the hell I am.
You can take the boy out of Africa, but you can never take the Africa out of the boy. I never did that to him. I never discredited him as an African. OK, there you are. Cool. Do you want to fight? Cool.
“But the fact that like an asshole, to tell me who the hell I am, that scared me off, and that’s why he’s my next fight. I don’t want to fight anyone else. This one pisses me off.”
The word “cracker” is a term used to describe poor white people that many believe is an abbreviation of “whip cracker.”
While its origins are not clear, some believe it is 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 fight 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 regaining his middleweight title against Pereira, Adesanya hinted at the idea of fighting Du Plessis in his home country – which is something he would 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 said to Dana, you beat COVID before any other major sports league hit the field or track, you did. 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 created division. I do not like that. He didn’t have to. He didn’t have to. You don’t understand, I’m here now. I’m going to fuck this man. I’m going to torture this man.
You don’t have to create division. Now is not the time for that shit. You certainly could have gone into the fight without talking all that nonsense. Well, be careful what you wish for. You have what you want. He’s next. I’m gonna beat him until he’s black.”