Israel Adesanya renders a decision for UFC 293, with Sean Strickland apparently replacing Dricus Du Plessis

According to reports, Dricus Du Plessis will not compete against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia, in September.

With such a quick turnaround, Ariel Helwani tweeted that the South African could not be able to compete at UFC 293. On the card for September 9, Sean Strickland will take his place.

“It’s not quite official but pretty close at this point that Dricus Du Plessis will not be able to fight Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 on Sept. 9 in Sydney. He was banged up going into the Robert Whittaker fight, and that turnaround is just too soon, I’m told. If that ends up being the case, and Israel Adesanya stays on the card, which is his desire, it’ll be Adesanya x Sean Strickland for the middleweight title on 9/9.”

Israel Adesanya responded to the matter by posting a video on his social media platforms criticizing Du Plessis and requesting Sean Strickland to do “The Man Dance” with him in Sydney in September.

Israel Adesanya stated in the video that Dricus Du Plessis is withdrawing due to a foot problem and added:

“I don’t even know how to start this, Dricus Du Pu*sy… You a bi*ch, that’s why you’re not taking this fight. Your foot’s sore… You’re out. Strickland, you’re in. Let’s do ‘The Man Dance.’ I’ll show you how to really dance”

Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya’s dispute

After UFC 290, when Dricus Du Plessis’ remarkable second-round knockout of Robert Whittaker earned him a crack at the middleweight championship, Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis engaged in a tense confrontation.

After the South African made some disrespectful remarks about being more “African” than Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou, their octagon altercation had overt racial overtones.

Adesanya regained his middleweight belt at UFC 287 by defeating Alex Pereira in his final contest. In contrast, Sean Strickland has won his last two fights after defeating Abus Magomedov. After his victory, “Tarzan” vehemently demanded a title shot, and it appears that his dream might just come true.