Morning Report | Israel Adesanya praises Dricus du Plessis’ win over Kamaru Usman: ‘It’s the best I’ve seen Dricus look’

Israel Adesanya has praised Dricus du Plessis following the South African middleweight's dominant decision victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma City this past Saturday. Despite their well-documented rivalry in recent years—stemming from a contentious dispute over African representation in combat sports—Adesanya was impressed enough by du Plessis' performance to publicly commend him.

"It's the best I've seen Dricus look," Adesanya said on his YouTube channel, highlighting du Plessis' improved positioning, striking selection, and tactical execution. He specifically praised the timing of a knee to set up a single-leg takedown, calling it "a good chess move" by du Plessis' corner. Adesanya acknowledged his friendship with Usman but made clear that du Plessis' technical display superseded any personal loyalties.

The two fighters, along with former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, had previously clashed with Adesanya over questions of continental authenticity in MMA, creating genuine bad blood. However, the situation has since thawed. Adesanya now views du Plessis' win through a broader lens: as a positive development for African MMA as a whole.

"It's good for us anyway," Adesanya explained, noting that high-profile matchups between African fighters draw viewership across the continent and inspire emerging talent. He expressed optimism that such visibility will deepen the talent pool in African combat sports, regardless of the event's card status.

The shift in tone reflects a maturation in how these champions now engage with one another, prioritizing the sport's growth over residual tensions.