Israel Adesanya Acknowledges Past Mistake, Urges Dricus Du Plessis to Follow Suit: ‘I Was Wrong!’

Posted on by Prathy Dey

Israel Adesanya Acknowledges Past Mistake, Urges Dricus Du Plessis to Follow Suit: ‘I Was Wrong!’

Israel Adesanya, the UFC middleweight champion, reflects on a previous feud with Robert Whittaker and the contentious comments he made about Whittaker’s heritage, raising questions about his Kiwi identity due to his Australian upbringing. While Adesanya and Whittaker have now developed mutual respect, their initial encounter at UFC 243 saw tensions rise as Adesanya openly questioned Whittaker’s authenticity as a New Zealander.

Examining the Rift with Du Plessis and Its Roots in Heritage Debates

The ongoing animosity between Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis also revolves around issues of heritage. The controversy surrounding their feud has led Adesanya to express remorse for his past comments about Whittaker and highlights the importance of self-awareness and personal growth.

Adesanya’s Humbling Realization and Acceptance of Responsibility

In an episode of The Halfcast Podcast, alongside fellow UFC fighters Tyson Pedro and Kai Kara-France, Israel Adesanya admits to his hypocrisy in questioning Whittaker’s heritage while engaging in similar behavior towards Du Plessis. The champion acknowledges that he was mistaken and emphasizes the significance of recognizing one’s errors to foster personal growth.

“Funny enough, someone brought it to my attention that I did the same thing to Rob,” Adesanya said on The Halfcast Podcast. “And I was like, ‘F***, you’re right.’ But guess what, I was wrong. That’s called growth. I learned, I realized that’s – how’s this, a black guy, telling this fing Maori that ‘Nah, you’re not a fing true Kiwi ‘cause you live in Australia.’ That’s stupid. So again, this is called growth.”

The Learning Process: Adesanya’s Evolution as a Fighter and a Person

Admitting wrongdoing is a challenging task, especially when the eyes of countless fans are fixated on every word spoken. Despite the pressure, Adesanya demonstrates his willingness to take responsibility for his past actions and use them as opportunities for learning and growth.

“I can admit when I was wrong. I fed up back then,” Adesanya confessed. “But, you learn. So I would never say that to Rob again because, who am I to try and take away his heritage? That’s fing stupid. I wasn’t even born here, but I claim to be from here because this is where my fighting heritage is from. But for me to have to say that to Rob, that was very stupid and that was wrong. So I shouldn’t have done that, but you learn.”

A Call for Reflection from Du Plessis

While Adesanya owns up to his past mistakes, there is no indication that Dricus Du Plessis intends to issue an apology to Adesanya. The fierce exchange between the two fighters following Du Plessis’ victory over Whittaker at UFC 290 further fueled the rivalry, but it remains uncertain whether a reconciliation is in the cards.

Du Plessis’ Potential Title Shot Delayed

Despite his impressive win over Whittaker and the potential for a title shot, it appears that Du Plessis won’t be ready in time for UFC 293 in Australia. His delayed readiness adds intrigue to the ongoing feud and raises questions about when the two fighters will eventually meet in the octagon.