Dricus du Plessis’ ability to get under his opponent’s skin is comparable to Conor McGregor’s legendary trash talk, at least according to Jon Anik. The veteran UFC color commentator had a recent sitdown with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, during which he compared the South African to the Irishman.
While Anik tried to downplay the potential meaning of du Plessis’ trash talk driving Israel Adesanya to tears by citing the impact of weight-cutting as well as the presence of the latter’s family, he ultimately praised the ease with which the middleweight champion needles his opponents.
“Not unlike Conor McGregor, there’s nothing really scripted. Certainly there’s pre-thought, but he’s just orating naturally, and you’re right, he is effectively getting under the skin of high-level elite opponents that maybe shouldn’t be taking that sort of bait.”
The buildup to the UFC 305 main event was defined by a deeply personal feud between du Plessis and Adesanya. Years ago, ‘The Last Stylebender’ took offense to the South African proclaiming himself the truest representative of African MMA among the promotion’s high-level African fighters.
Du Plessis, an Afrikaner whose family has been in South Africa for generations, claimed that because he was not only born in South Africa, but still lives in and trains there, is better fit to represent African MMA. He further stated that he would be the only fighter to bring a UFC belt back to an African gym.
Adesanya, who is Nigerian-born, was outraged by du Plessis’ rhetoric, sparking a heated rivalry that both men look to settle at UFC 305.
Dricus du Plessis has bested two renowned trash-talkers in back-to-back press conferences
While Israel Adesanya breaking down in tears at the UFC 305 pre-fight presser has made headlines, he is usually the trash-talker prodding at his opponents. However, Dricus du Plessis’ calm, matter-of-fact trash talk managed to unravel ‘The Last Stylebender,’ and he isn’t the only one to whom he has done so.
Sean Strickland is one of the sport’s most unhinged trash-talkers, but even he was ultimately brought to tears by du Plessis’ pre-fight press conference trash talk. While he doesn’t say anything particularly witty, his remarks are personal and cutting, more so to the fighter with whom he’s dueling.
