Seattle, WA’s Climate Pledge Arena serves as the backdrop for UFC Seattle. This is the second year in a row that Seattle has hosted a UFC Fight Night. In the Feb. 28 headliner, one of Dricus du Plessis’ counterparts in the division, No. 6 contender Israel Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) clashes with No. 14 contender Joe Pyfer (15-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC).
The five-round, five-minute-per-round fight will be Israel Adesanya’s first bout under the UFC promotional banner in more than a year after he was knocked out at UFC Riyadh in February 2025 in the second round by Nassourdine Imavov (17-4, 1 NC MMA, 9-2, 1 NC UFC.) Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya have a history with each other, having fought in August 2024, with the former winning by submission.
Dricus du Plessis approves of Adesanya vs. Pyfer fight
Dricus du Plessis was a guest on Thursday Battle Prediction to discuss the upcoming competition in late February in Puget Sound. He believes the Feb. 28 fight will be a must-see for those tuning into Paramount Plus.
“He’s not close in the rankings,” Dricus du Plessis said of the relationship between Israel Adesanya and Joe Pyfer. “It’s an exciting fight for fans. That just shows the quality of warrior he is, putting his reputation on the line to fight an up and coming guy he doesn’t have to fight.”
DDP said that at this stage of Adesanya’s career, he is not solely in the UFC with the goal of chasing the middleweight championship one more time.
“He goes out and said, ‘I want exciting fights,’” he said, “and this is an exciting fight.”
DDP thinks Adesanya won’t retire anytime soon
When discussing the topic of Israel Adesanya, DDP says that although he will eventually retire, it will not be in the near future.
“I think it’s very difficult for any fighter [to retire,] he said. “I think it’s hard. We live for this, and sometimes you just need someone to tell you, ‘Listen, it’s time.’ I don’t think it’s time for him. I don’t think it’s time yet.”
Until Adesanya retires, DDP believes “The Last Stylebender” is focused on doing what he wants to do.
“When it comes to achieving things in sports, that’s not what he thinks about,” he said. “Going for the belt, that’s not what he’s thinking about. That’s probably not going to happen. I can almost guarantee it’s not going to happen because that’s not his goal.”
No concrete date for Dricus du Plessis’ next opponent, but the return in April seems likely
As previously mentioned, Dricus du Plessis does not currently have a fight scheduled for later this year, but he said he is targeting a return to competition in the early spring.
“I’m going to be ready for April,” he said. “I would love to be on that April card, the Miami card. There’s no opponent yet, there’s no contract yet. We don’t have any of that. Whoever, let’s go.”
If he does fight, it will be his first appearance inside the legendary Octagon since a failed defense of the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) last August in Chicago. Revenge is the only thing on DDP’s mind during his expected return.
“The next fight will be the most important fight of my life,” he said. “I will win that fight and I will get my belt back.”
Final thoughts
Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, besides being in the same weight class, have something in common. Both men have been at the top of the mountain as middleweights and ultimately lost their places at the captain’s table.
It is truly satisfying to hear DDP speak highly of Adesanya as he continues the final stages of his career. Normally when two fighters in the same weight class talk about each other, it is to verbally abuse each other.
Not this time. The respect du Plessis has for Israel Adesanya is admirable.
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