Dricus Du Plessis had a message for his doubters after retaining his middleweight title by beating Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth on Saturday night.
The South African won via submission in the fourth round after choking out his opponent in Saturday’s headline fight.
Adesanya had started the fight as a marginal favourite among bookmakers, while several journalists had also tipped the Nigerian-born Kiwi to beat Du Plessis.
Responding to those predictions, Du Plessis gleefully delivered a 17-word message as he walked through the media zone at Perth’s RAC Arena.
A laughing Du Plessis gloated: ‘Every one of you guys that said I’m not ready, haha. I made you look like dumb***es.’
Dricus Du Plessis (left) beat Israel Adesanya via submission at UFC 305 on Saturday night
Du Plessis pictured posing with his belt and girlfriend Vasti Spiller after Saturday’s victory
Du Plessis pictured during a post-fight interview after retaining his UFC middleweight title
The build-up to the fight had featured a war of words between the two men, who have been rivals for years.
Du Plessis angered Adesanya by claiming to be the first champion from Africa, despite Adesanya – who left the continent to move to New Zealand at the age of 10 – having twice held the title himself.
However, Du Plessis and Adesanya were full of praise for each other after the fight was over.
‘This man is the king of getting back up,’ du Plessis said of Adesanya, who had been bidding to become the UFC’s first ever three-time middleweight champion.
‘I’m still alive, that’s a bonus. I came here to die for this belt and to take a life. I’m still champion, baby.’
Despite their pre-fight war of words, there was mutual respect between Du Plessis and Adesanya following their contest in Perth
But Du Plessis was keen to taunt his critics, including journalists who had tipped him to lose
Du Plessis also said that it was an honour to ‘share the octagon with a legend’ before adding: ‘This man has done so much for this sport and I’m really sorry it came across that I disrespected that he is from Africa. It wasn’t my intention.’
Adesanya said: ‘I always knew he was going to be tough, so that’s no surprise.
‘This is the best I’ve ever felt and the best I’ve ever looked but I just fought the best man on the night.’