Conor McGregor backs Dricus Du Plessis against Israel Adesanya

11 July 2023

The profound animosity between Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis transcends mere fighting abilities and competitive drive. These two fighters have been embroiled in heated exchanges, raising questions about each other's African heritage.

This compelling narrative has captivated fight enthusiasts, and the combat sports community caught a glimpse of how this emotionally charged rivalry would unfold when Adesanya entered the cage to face off against Du Plessis following the latter's triumph at UFC 290.

Amidst these circumstances, Conor McGregor has seemingly changed allegiances and opted to support Du Plessis in the ongoing debate. The Irishman expressed his enthusiasm for Du Plessis' victory at UFC 290 on Twitter, writing with fervor:

"Huge congrats to South African MMA and South Africa, period! That is an incredible win for them inside the UFC’s Octagon! Title fight next for sure! Let’s go S.A,” the former UFC champ tweeted.

Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya have developed a noteworthy bond, as McGregor previously praised Adesanya as one of the few remaining elite performers in the sport. Both fighters were formerly represented by Paradigm Sports Management, and this professional connection likely contributed to their genuine camaraderie.

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While McGregor primarily worked with Audi Attar, the founder and CEO of Paradigm Sports, Adesanya and other notable fighters, including UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, were under the representation of Paradigm agent Tim Simpson. However, Simpson recently established his own management firm, known as Chosen Advisory Group, earlier this year. ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto disclosed that several prominent stars from the Paradigm roster would be joining Simpson's team, which was subsequently confirmed by the management company in a press release.