The tension between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya reached new heights this Friday at the UFC 305 pre-fight press conference. UFC commentator Jon Anik was right in the thick of the action, observing the heated exchange first-hand.
As the two middleweights prepare to headline UFC 305, their rivalry has been bubbling for some time. This week, things escalated dramatically. Adesanya, the current middleweight champion, was visibly affected by comments made by Du Plessis. In a particularly intense moment, Adesanya shed a tear, underscoring the emotional stakes of their bout.
With UFC CEO Dana White absent from Perth, Western Australia, Jon Anik took on the role of moderator. In the middle of the confrontation, Anik witnessed the raw intensity of their clash. He has since shared his view that Du Plessis is among the best trash talkers in the UFC.
Anik noted that Du Plessis’s ability to provoke strong reactions is reminiscent of some of the greatest trash talkers in MMA history. “There is no doubt [he’s one of the best trash-talkers in the UFC], and not unlike Conor McGregor there’s nothing really scripted, certainly there is pre-thought but he’s just aureating naturally,” Anik told MMAJunkie. He highlighted how Du Plessis has successfully gotten under the skin of high-level opponents, which is a testament to his skill in verbal exchanges.
Jon Anik Calls Dricus du Plessis One of UFC’s Best Trash Talkers in UFC
In the lead-up to his UFC 297 title fight against Sean Strickland, Du Plessis made headlines by touching on Strickland’s past traumas, which led to an emotional response from Strickland. Now, with Du Plessis’s comments reducing Adesanya to tears, fans are noting that Du Plessis appears to be undefeated in press conference confrontations.
Anik drew comparisons between Du Plessis and legendary trash talkers like Chael Sonnen, Rampage Jackson, and even his co-commentator, Michael Bisping. However, he particularly likened Du Plessis’s approach to Conor McGregor’s style. “He’s getting under the skin of high-level opponents that maybe shouldn’t be taking that sort of bait,” Jon Anik said.
Anik also praised Du Plessis’s mindset and preparation. He believes that Du Plessis’s ‘methodology and mentality’ are in excellent shape for the upcoming fight. “To watch what this guy has done in his UFC career and just methodically go about his business… I think as far as Dricus’s methodology and his mentality is concerned, it’s a great thing,” Anik explained.
Earlier this week, Du Plessis suggested that Adesanya might be overthinking and getting too caught up in his own head. Given the emotional reaction from Adesanya during the press conference, it’s clear that Du Plessis has managed to get under his rival’s skin.
After the press conference, Du Plessis took to social media to taunt his opponent. He told Adesanya and others to stop crying at press events, further fueling the fire ahead of their bout.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
