Nigerian MMA fighter Kamaru Usman, also known as the “Nigerian Nightmare,” has shared his insights into the mistakes made by fellow fighter Israel Adesanya during his loss to South African Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305.
At UFC 305, Dricus Du Plessis secured a victory over Israel Adesanya, nearly breaking Adesanya’s neck in the process. This win stirred debates about their African fighter heritage, with Du Plessis claiming the title of “King of Africa.”
In a recent episode of the “Pound for Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman discussed Adesanya’s performance and the tactical errors that led to his defeat.
Usman pointed out the difficulty in dealing with Du Plessis’ unconventional fighting style. He explained, “When he throws those big shots, those legs are not on the ground. This guy must have some power because those legs are not planted on the ground. He is almost leaping into the shot.”
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He added, “While Israel was hurt, when you’re hurt, you’re not firing that fast to understand that you need to defend the next move, the next sequence. Israel reacted late, to figure out I’m in a bad position, I need to look for the hand, it’s not there, next thing he is tapping.”
The aftermath of the fight saw a surprising shift from rivalry to camaraderie between Adesanya and Du Plessis. Despite the intense competition, Du Plessis acknowledged Adesanya’s professional accomplishments but admitted he still didn’t like him personally. This unexpected transformation has left both MMA fans and the community puzzled.
Adesanya, a Lagos-born fighter, has a notable rivalry with Alex Pereira, adding another layer of intrigue to his career. His acceptance of Du Plessis as the new “King of Africa” suggests a move past their earlier disagreements.
