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As UFC 300 loomed on the horizon, fans anticipated a monumental main event, with speculation swirling around potential matchups. Among the contenders was a showdown between reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, a bout that could have headlined the historic event.
However, Adesanya recently disclosed that despite being summoned for the occasion, the fight did not materialize as du Plessis and his team declined the opportunity. In an interview on Theo Von's podcast, Adesanya shed light on the missed opportunity, stating,
"They summoned me for [UFC] 300 and I was like ‘yep, let’s roll.’ But their side didn’t want it."
Israel Adesanya punctuates the significance of Adesanya's revelation, emphasizing the intrigue surrounding the potential matchup and its implications for the UFC 300 main event.
Adesanya speculated that du Plessis' recent bout with Sean Strickland at UFC 297, which resulted in a grueling five-round war, may have contributed to the declined offer. Despite Adesanya's willingness to compete despite injuries, du Plessis' potential injuries likely hindered his readiness for a quick turnaround in April.
This missed opportunity echoes a similar circumstance in du Plessis' career, where a foot injury prevented him from facing Adesanya after securing a knockout victory over Robert Whittaker. Adesanya's subsequent loss to Strickland further complicates the middleweight title picture, setting the stage for future clashes between the top contenders.
As Adesanya and du Plessis continue their respective journeys, the possibility of a showdown in Africa looms large, with both fighters expressing interest in competing on the continent. While UFC 300 may have missed out on this anticipated matchup, fans can expect the rivalry between Adesanya and du Plessis to persist, setting the stage for a potential blockbuster event in the future.