Dricus Du Plessis responds to Israel Adesanya's claims he would 'drag his carcass across South Africa'

A war-of-words between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya's has erupted in the wake of UFC 287.

Following his knockout victory over Alex Pereira to regain the middleweight title, Adesanya took a shot at South African contender Du Plessis for comments he made a month ago.

Speaking at the UFC 285 media say, Du Plessis questioned whether the championship belts truly went to Africa under Kamaru Usman, Francis Ngannou and Adesanya's reigns.

“Did those belts ever go to Africa? As far as I know, they came to America and New Zealand,” he said.

“I’m going to take a belt to Africa. I’m the African fighter in the UFC. Myself and Cameron [Saaimon], we breathe African air. We wake up in Africa every day. We train in Africa, we’re African born, we’re African raised, we still reside in Africa, we train out of Africa – that’s an African champion, and that’s who I’ll be.”

"I pray to God he keeps winning. I will gladly drag his carcass across South Africa."

Israel Adesanya had STRONG words for a UFC middleweight he wouldn't name. 😳

Full video: https://t.co/vTg1UmEty9 pic.twitter.com/DqrVqX0FaR

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) April 9, 2023

His comments upset a few people – the champions he's referring to included.

After capturing the title back, Adesanya addressed the comments.

“F**k, I don’t want to give (Du Plessis) no clout,” Adesanya told reporters at the UFC 287 post-fight press conference.

“I want to whoop his ass so bad. I want to do it in South Africa, or Nigeria, but he’s got to do work. He’s got to do something. Show me something so I can whoop that ass and I can show you history. I’ll remind you, because you’ve got to choose your words wisely when you speak on people that have come before you, people that have paved the way for you. You’ve got to pick your words wisely.

“If he does work, and I pray to God he keeps winning, I will gladly drag his carcass across South Africa.”

It didn't take long for Du Plessis to issue a response of his own via social media.

“So you won’t say my name, that’s smart you better not,” Du Plessis wrote on Instagram.

“I don’t need your airtime at all, I have my whole continent of AFRICA behind me. Go enjoy your very spectacular victory at home in New Zealand.

“UFC Africa is far from being done at least another year, I’ll meet you on neutral ground this year and if you still feel so strongly after facing me and I take your belt home I’ll give you another chance to come and try face me on MY HOME soil of Africa. We are Africa we fear nothing and certainly nobody.”

With impressive wins over Derek Brunson, Darren Till and Brad Tavares, Du Plessis is definitely within middleweight title contention.

And given the friction between him and the champ, Adesanya could be tempted to give him a shot at the title sometime soon.