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Hagley Park In Stadium Live FeedEmotional Adesanya breaks down in tears at fiery UFC 305 pre-fight press conference
Stephen Foote • August 16th, 2024 10:41 pm
After a relatively subdued build up to UFC 305, matters came to a fiery head at an explosive pre-fight press conference at RAC Arena in Perth on Friday.
Both Du Plessis and Adesanya had been very even-keeled since touching down in Western Australia, despite the bad blood between them dating back to 'Stillknocks' claims he's the "true" African in the UFC, rather than the NZ-based, Nigerian-born Adesanya.
Both were dismissive of any prevailing beef during Wednesday's media day, but the malice boiled over the next day at the presser, where Adesanya was overcome with emotion, brought to tears when recalling his parents' sacrifice in immigrating to New Zealand to give his family a better life back when he was just 10 years old.
"I do this for my family," Adesanya said between tears, as he pointed to his parents in the front row.
"I do this for the people I love and I'll fight for you forever, I swear to God. I'm a human being, I'm a man and I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time.
"I feel the love from the crowd. First time I fought here, UFC 221, that was February 2018," Adesanya said, referring to his UFC debut. "That was me making my dreams come true.
"Sunday I'm going to kill your dreams," he screamed, pointing to Du Plessis as they crowd erupted.
The coinciding Springboks v Wallabies test in Perth on Saturday led many to believe Du Plessis would have a reasonable share of support come fight day.
But if the press conference was anything to go by, the fans are almost unequivocally behind Adesanya, who received enormous cheers every time he spoke, while Du Plessis was lustily booed with each comment he made.
"You don’t anything about my story," Adesanya screamed at Du Plessis. "You have no idea who I am."
"My father and myself had to wake up at 4am and clean the banks while my mum studies to be a nurse. You don’t know my story. Don’t speak on my story if you don’t know my story.
"I'll show you who you are Sunday."
Adesanya alleged Du Plessis had unnecessarily been making the bout about race and culture, before accusing his opponent of being disrespectful to the Aboriginal elders who conduced the event's welcome to country ceremony on Tuesday.
"You couldn't even respect the people of the land. You were the one not doing anything. I took my shoes off to connect with the people.
"You stood there and tried to mean mug me. Are you stupid?"
The two later squared off on stage and had to be separated, as they continued firing verbal shots at each other.
Adesanya is attempting become just the second three-time UFC world champion after Randy Couture with a victory over Du Plessis on Sunday, while the South African is aiming to make his maiden title defence, following his victory over Sean Strickland to capture the belt back in January.
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