Israel Adesanya lauds Dricus du Plessis following win over Kamaru Usman: “It’s the best I’ve seen Dricus look”

Israel Adesanya believes the best version of Dricus du Plessis showed up at UFC OKC.

Du Plessis stood across the Octagon from Kamaru Usman, who is no easy task even at the age of 39. The two former champions clashed inside the Paycom Center, and it was “Stillknocks” who had the clear early edge. Usman was even rocked by a clean knee strike upstairs, but he held on and eventually tried mounting a late comeback.

Usman’s efforts weren’t enough, as du Plessis secured a unanimous decision victory. Adesanya uploaded a post-fight reaction video on his YouTube channel, and he had plenty of praise for his former foe (via MMAFighting).

“It’s the best I’ve seen Dricus look,” Adesanya said. “He looked less out of position when he finished punching, when he initiated punching. Sometimes he still did his thing, but he looked really good. Some of the shots he was throwing, the selection, and the timing of the knee for that single-leg, that was a good chess move from their team.

“I wanted Kamaru to get it done, but again, it just shows how good Dricus is. And good on him.”

Adesanya and du Plessis once had a heated rivalry that got quite personal over ethnicity. After du Plessis submitted Adesanya in an entertaining UFC middleweight title fight back in 2024, both men squashed their issues and have been complimentary of one another.

While du Plessis believes his performance over Usman was worthy of a title opportunity, many fans believe a rematch between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev for the 185-pound gold will ultimately be the choice. “Stillknocks” also took a dig at Nassourdine Imavov, questioning the top contender’s future amid inactivity.

Do you agree with Israel Adesanya? Was UFC OKC the best performance Dricus du Plessis has ever delivered? Let us know what you think in the comments below.