ISRAEL Adesanya has insisted that he has no intention of quitting the UFC even after he was beaten in a highly-charged middleweight title contest by Dricus Du Plessis.
The Nigerian lost to the South African by submission in the fourth round today in Perth Australia and there were some calls for him to retire.
“I’m not f**king leaving,” the 35-year-old blurted out during his post-defeat press conference.
“I always knew he was going to be tough, so that’s no surprise.
“This is the best I’ve ever felt and the best I’ve ever looked but I just fought the best man on the night.”
He blamed the defeat — the first by submission in his stellar career — on a shocking error, saying, “I was quite strong in there. I felt able to resist his takedowns.
“I just made a stupid, dumb mistake on the ground.”
During the fight, Du Plessis defeated Israel Adesanya in the fourth round at UFC 305 to defend his middleweight title.
The South African executed a rear naked choke to take the win over the Nigerian after rocking the ‘Style Bender’ with a left hook and a series of rights before taking him down.
Afterwards, Du Plessis had some kind words for Adesanya, who is considered a mixed martial arts great.
“This man is the king of getting back up,” du Plessis said of Adesanya, who was bidding to become a middleweight champion for the third time.
“I’m still alive, that’s a bonus. I came here to die for this belt and to take a life. I’m still champion, baby.”
Du Plessis said it was an honour to ‘share the octagon with a legend’ and added: “This man has done so much for this sport and I’m really sorry it came across that I disrespected that he is from Africa.
“It wasn’t my intention.”
