UFC President Dana White fielded a question regarding the perceived "racial undertones" stemming from the encounter between Du Plessis and Adesanya.
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Dricus Du Plessis emerged victorious over Robert Whittaker in an intense middleweight bout at UFC 290 on Saturday. Following his impressive win, Du Plessis found himself approached inside the Octagon by none other than Israel Adesanya, as they engaged in a spirited exchange to generate excitement for a potential future title fight.
During the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White fielded a question regarding the perceived “racial undertones” stemming from the encounter between Du Plessis and Adesanya. As the Nigerian-born middleweight champion engaged in a face-off with his probable opponent, he utilized a few N-words, prompting inquiries about the nature of their exchange.
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As the question was posed to Dana White, he appeared puzzled and requested clarification from the reporter. The reporter then alleged that Israel Adesanya had repeatedly used the N-word and had dropped approximately 50 instances of the derogatory term.
“OK, he’s Black … who gives a s—?” White responded. “This is the fight business. Israel Adesanya can say whatever he wants to say,” White continued. “Who gives a s—? Why? Are people b—-ing about that? … Of course, they are. Oh f—ing aye. All right, got it. Too f—ing bad.”
In the post-fight press conference, Du Plessis downplayed the intense incident, stating to reporters that he was mentally prepared for any situation or remarks. “He’s been displaying clownish behavior in there. That’s not the conduct of a champion or a mature individual. It’s childish. A true champion carries themselves differently,” Du Plessis asserted, emphasizing the importance of dignified behavior.
“I’m prepared for everything, anything he says,” he told reporters. “He’s been acting like a clown in there. That’s not how a champion behaves. That’s not how a man behaves. He’s behaving like a child. Conduct yourself like a champion.”
“There’s people looking up to you, and you’re behaving like that? If that sells tickets, then good for him. I’ll sell tickets my way. I’m a gentleman. I’m a man, and I’ll behave like a man.”
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