Israel Edsanya and Kamaru Usman Blast DuCus Do Plessis claims ‘first African UFC Champion’: ‘Colonial Mentality’ originally appeared on Ethalon Sports.
Representation shapes the culture of a game, inspires the coming generations, and validate the struggles of the fighters that break the obstacles. When athlete champions see those who look like them, come from the same background, or share their struggles, it fuels the ambition and proves that greatness is attainable.
The debate on a region or identity representing often leads to intensive discussion, which reveals deep questions about heritage, opportunity and respect. In a sport as global as MMA, and in popular promotion as UFC, fighters from all areas of life steps into the weight of their communities every time they step into the cage.
Israel adesanyagetty pictures
Former UFC champions Israel Adsanya and Kamaru Usman recently sat on Edsanya’s YouTube channel to address the controversial claim of DuCus du Plessis to be the “First Real African Champion” of UFC.
The discussion dismissed Do Plessis’s comment, which expressed resentment between African-born fighters such as Edsanya, Usman and Francis Naganau, all of whom won UFC titles before Du Plessis, but were trained outside the continent.
See full interview here:
Questioning the mentality of Do Plessis, Usman did not move back: “When you come in and the three African kings are already. Your mindset is ‘Why is there a man, I want to be 4 African champions’?”
Adsanya agreed with the criticism of Kamru, saying, “This is a colonial mindset.” I want to take all this for myself. ” He doubled. ,
While he disagrees with the opinion of du Plessis as Africans, he also made it clear that he considers him a decent person, despite believing that she is ignorant.
“This is the only thing that rubbed me incorrectly,” said Usman. “But I think he is a great person, as far as all run-in I have done [had] With them. He is cool. “
Adsanya also agreed that criticism for Do Plessis is not personal.
The former Middleweight Champion had a positive conversation with Du Plessis during the training sessions, remembering, “Even when I saw him as a calm friend years ago, as a calm friend. He and his brother, they are shouting.”
Adesanya continued to show respect to the current champion, announced, “We paved the way … even Dricus, credit, he is now making way. I am happy that he is a champion, because we still have an African champion.”
The UFC has so far hosted an event in Africa, but the success of fighters such as Adesanya, USMAN, and DU PLESSIS has intensified calls for a historical pay-per-view on the continent. UFC Executive David Shaw Indicated In a possible 2025 event, although logistic challenges such as time zone remain.
Du Plessis is still catching the middleweight belt, but is looking at a return with Edsanya, and recently UsmanAcceptHe has a future plans to go to the middleweight and challenge du Plessis, his saga is over.
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The story was originally reported by Ethalon Sports on 11 June 2025, where it first appeared.