Sean O’Malley has given his thoughts on a possible UFC middleweight title showdown between Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis.
Next month, Dricus du Plessis will battle Robert Whittaker in the biggest fight of his career so far. Of course, the real aim of the game is to earn a shot against Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight championship. Adesanya is expected to return in September as he attempts to remain at the top of the mountain at 185 pounds.
Dricus du Plessis, meanwhile, hasn’t been shy when discussing his feelings about the champ. Between the African heritage remarks and claims that he manhandled him in training, there’s been no stone left unturned.
In the mind of Sean O’Malley, though, past grappling exchanges won’t matter all too much when they get into the Octagon.
“The thing about that, so long ago, it doesn’t matter,” O’Malley said. “Especially if it’s just grappling, or just kickboxing…that doesn’t necessarily translate into a fight, into a cage, into that big moment when you guys fight. Izzy was probably just kickboxing [at the time], so I don’t think too much of that, I think he smokes DDP.”
Quotes via MMA News