Israel Adesanya has explained why he got emotional ahead of his fight with Dricus du Plessis.
‘The Last Stylebender’ tried to grow to be a three-time middleweight champion when he fought Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024 – but he fell short in a fourth-round submission loss to the South African superstar.
Pre-fight, Israel Adesanya broke down in tears during a fiery UFC 305 press conference.
Many believed it was his opponent’s trash talk that triggered the emotional display, however the man himself has now clarified that something else set him off.
Israel Adesanya explains emotional press conference display
Israel Adesanya recently named Sean Strickland because the opponent he hated probably the most during an appearance on the Pound4Pound podcast co-hosted by former UFC champions Karmaru Usman and Henry Cejudo.
‘Triple C’ was somewhat surprised Adesanya didn’t pick Du Plessis after their infamous press conference.
“That one was different,” the Recent Zealander said of his rivalry with the present 185lb king.
“People were like, ‘Ah, he made you cry. He didn’t make me cry.
“Okay, I’ll inform you what it’s. I used to be talking about my mom.
“What we used to do is I used to go together with my job to my mom’s job because she was studying to be a nurse. So, we’d go to the bank to wash at like 4am, get back home, prepare for varsity, after which go to high school.
“I discussed that and I saw my mom within the front [row] and she or he type of welled up. When mom welled up, it hit me within the feels.
“So, it wasn’t him, it was my mom, seeing her emotional type of got me emotional.”
What’s next for Israel Adesanya?
Adesanya’s shock knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia in February made it three defeats in a row for the MMA and kickboxing legend.
Adesanya recently linked up with David Goggins as he prepares to make his eagerly anticipated comeback.
The 35-year-old has named Strickland as the perfect opponent for his return to the UFC Octagon.
“I told Hunter [Campbell], already told my coach here, it’s time. I do know who, I actually have a sense who I wanna fight,” Adesanya told Goggins. “You’ll like this one. I can get some get-back [on] Sean Strickland.
“He beat me fair and square in Sydney, 5-0. Just whooped my a– badly.
“That was one in every of the things what made me realize I would like to decelerate in my activity. I used to be fighting 3-4 a yr as a champion. So I’m like, I’m gonna pull back now because I’m older.
“I’m doing things different. I don’t wanna make excuses because he beat me. But then I just wanna show him if he beat me at my best. So, this time I’m gonna are available in and proper.”
