UFC 305: Tensions flare as Du Plessis brands Adesanya a liar over decade old training session

Ahead of Sunday’s middleweight title fight in Perth things are heating up between Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya. And a decade old training session in Thailand is at the centre of it.

Dricus du Plessis defends his middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth this weekend. Picture: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Dricus du Plessis has branded Israel Adesanya a liar and called on the Kiwi middleweight title challenger to release the full footage of their contentious decade-old training session in Thailand.

The bad blood between them has been simmering for a little over a year and they will finally settle their differences in the Octagon at UFC 305 in Perth on Sunday.

They first crossed paths 10 years ago at a training camp in Thailand, long before either was in the UFC.

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In a clip that went viral before DDP’s middleweight title fight victory over Sean Strickland this year, a 19-year-old du Plessis, who had just two fights to his name, can be seen sparring in Thailand with a then unknown Alex Volkanovski.

Du Plessis also did wrestling and grappling rounds with Adesanya that week.

“And I destroyed him,” du Plessis said of their brief moments training together.

Can Adesanya reclaim his belt in Perth? Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Adesanya remembers it a little differently.

“He laid on top of me. He couldn’t do shit,” Adesanya said.

“I was in Thailand for about a week and a half and I was still kickboxing. I wasn’t even training MMA then.

“We trained, I’m pretty sure we struck, I’m pretty sure we sparred.

“He was really nice to me then, saying, ‘Big fan, blah, blah, blah’ and we played around.

“I do remember that he was the only one that could hold me down. But he didn’t submit me, didn’t tap me.

“If he wants to hold on to that, good for him.”

Israel Adesanya remembers their training session differently. Picture: Dean Tirkot

Du Plessis says they only grappled. Picture: Getty Images

Du Plessis denied Adesanya’s claims that the Kiwi beat him up in their striking sessions.

In fact, the South African said they didn’t even do any striking sparring.

“It’s funny because he says in a video that I beat him on the ground but that he pieced me up in the sparring,” du Plessis said. “Lying b--ch!

“That’s not the truth at all. We didn’t do one single round of sparring. I remember it so clearly.

“We did grappling and he didn’t have any grappling at all. I was 19 years old, I knew he was a great kickboxer, and you could see that, but him saying he pieced me up in the sparring…you’re lying.

“It did not happen.”

Du Plessis said there was an easy way to prove who was right – release the footage.

“He had a camera crew with him the whole time, people taking videos and his coach was there as well,” he said.

“Funny enough, there would be footage if he wanted to get it.

“I don’t know if there’s footage of us grappling but we definitely grappled.

“But I know for a fact that there’s not a single round of us striking because it didn’t happen.

“Release the footage, I’d love to see it.”

Originally published as UFC 305: Tensions flare as Du Plessis brands Adesanya a liar over decade old training session