Israel Adesanya’s placing coach, Michael Angove, lately disregarded the significance of an virtually decade-old sparring session between “The Final Stylebender” and Dricus Du Plessis.
Du Plessis is poised to defend his middleweight title for the primary time in a extremely anticipated grudge match in opposition to Adesanya, headlining the UFC 305 card at Perth’s RAC Area in Western Australia on August 17.
Adesanya and Du Plessis have been on an inevitable trajectory towards one another lengthy earlier than their tempestuous confrontation within the Octagon at UFC 290 in July 2023. Nevertheless, that explosive encounter was not their solely assembly; their rivalry dates again to nicely earlier than they grew to become distinguished figures on the earth of MMA.
In a video that surfaced on social media final yr, captured in 2016 on the Tiger Muay Thai coaching facility in Thailand, Du Plessis was seen sparring with former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Throughout this session, the South African unintentionally ran into Adesanya. The transient encounter noticed them change apologies earlier than they resumed their separate coaching.
After the clip gained vital traction, each Adesanya and Du Plessis mirrored on their previous coaching session a number of instances. The Nigerian-born Kiwi admitted to struggling within the grappling exchanges however claimed to have outshone “Stillknocks” in placing. In distinction, Du Plessis insisted that he “manhandled” his future opponent all through the whole session.
Nevertheless, Angove believes that the previous has little bearing on the current…
Angove States One Coaching Session Doesn’t Guarantee Du Plessis Will Outperform Adesanya Once more
Throughout a latest interview with The Scrap, Angove was questioned concerning the coaching session between Adesanya and Du Plessis. The Metropolis Kickboxing coach responded diplomatically, stressing that previous occasions are irrelevant within the current context. He highlighted that each fighters, significantly his protégé, have undergone vital evolution since then.
“It’s what it’s, you understand, it was 10 years in the past, that’s a decade,” Angove mentioned. “What occurs within the coaching room and all these components, I imply, we’ve heard tales of AJ [Anthony Joshua] being knocked out in boxing. You get guys who get chinned by sparring companions, however none of that issues as a result of a lot water has gone below the bridge. You already know, one coaching session, as soon as, when one man obtained the higher of somebody in a single explicit change doesn’t imply whooped his sh*t, to be sincere.”
Angove additional emphasised that Adesanya showcased sturdy takedown protection in opposition to formidable opponents like Yoel Romero and Derek Brunson, each identified for his or her wrestling-heavy recreation. In distinction, Du Plessis was taken down by Brunson of their struggle.
“Let’s not overlook, Romero couldn’t maintain Izzy down, couldn’t take him down. Derek Brunson couldn’t get him down, and we all know that Derek took Dricus down. So, you understand, time strikes, and Dricus may have improved since then as nicely. However we don’t function in this type of time-free model. These guys are elite athletes who’ve developed in order that they’re on the prime of the MMA recreation, and that’s how we have a look at it.”
