UFC News: ‘Hurt’ Robert Whittaker Brutally Honest on Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya

'The Reaper’ reacts to Du Plessis’ latest call-out of Adesanya

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Whittaker has caught wind of the next middleweight title fight.

UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis has called out Israel Adesanya for a showdown at UFC 305. Adesanya is coming off a title loss to Sean Strickland, leaving many to wonder how many second chances the two-time champ can get at gold.

Some top contenders such as Sean Strickland are simply not having it, feeling as though he owed a rematch with the reigning champ after a close call in Canada

RELATED: Sean Strickland Eyes Dricus Du Plessis Rematch, Blames Canada for UFC Title Loss

As for another former middleweight division champ, Robert Whittaker admits the potential clash between former foes bugs him.. 

“I think Izzy fighting for a title again hurts me [laughs],” Whittaker said on the MMArcade Podcast. “But, I understand Dricus has asked for it, right? And he's the champ, gets what he wants. Adesanya is a draw. It seems like the fight that was going to happen, in my opinion."

Given the rivalled history between the two, the title fight between Du Plessis and Adesanya makes for great box-office. The grudge match took form after the Nigerian-born Adesanya (who moved to New Zealand at age 10) took issue with South Africa’s Du Plessis’ comments on being ‘The African fighter of the UFC’:

“Did those belts ever go to Africa?” Du Plessis said at UFC 285 media day, on the road to capturing the UFC title. “As far as I know, it came to America and New Zealand. I'm gonna take a belt to Africa. I'm the African fighter in the UFC, myself and Cameron [Saaiman]. We breathe African air, we wake up in Africa every day. We train in Africa, we're African born, we're African raised. We still reside in Africa. We train out of Africa. That's an African champion and that's who I'll be.”

The statement stuck with Adesanya, who said he’d gladly drag the middleweight’s ‘carcass across South Africa’.

With a storyline to go with it, Whittaker dives into the fight from a stylistic standpoint after having fought both men (Adesanya twice) in the Octagon. 

“It's an interesting fight,” Whittaker said of Du Plessis vs. Adesanya. “I can see Adesanya just piecing him up for five rounds, but in saying that Dricus is tough as nails and he's awkward. I can also see Dricus getting in there and just making it awkward… I don't know, taking him out of his rhythm.

“We saw when Adesanya fought Strickland, Strickland pushing that pace and moving into his space changed the rhythm of the fight. Adesanya didn't adapt to that very well. And I think if Dricus does the same, he might have the same sort of success.”

Whether or not those middleweights square off, Robert Whittaker will take on Khamzat Chimaev in the meantime in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on June 22. ‘The Reaper’ believes this may be his last stop before another shot at the title.

If you use any quotes from this article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.

Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC, MMA, WWE, and AEW.

Follow MMA Knockout on Twitter and Facebook.