Du Plessis Explains Jacket Gift to Adesanya
Dricus du Plessis gave Israel Adesanya a South African flag jacket backstage after their UFC 305 middleweight title fight, adding a gesture of respect to a rivalry that had grown heated during fight week.
Du Plessis later explained that he had planned to give Adesanya the jacket whether he won or lost. He described it as a token of appreciation for the fight and a memento of what he called an all-Africa main event, with two champions from the continent sharing the sport’s biggest stage.
Respect after a bitter build-up
The exchange did not mean the rivalry had been staged or that the pair had become close friends. Du Plessis said he respected Adesanya as a fighter while making clear that respect inside competition did not settle their personal differences. Their tension had centered partly on identity and representation in African MMA, themes that surfaced repeatedly in the lead-up to Perth.
In the main event on August 17, 2024, Du Plessis retained his title by submitting Adesanya with a face crank at 3:38 of the fourth round. The jacket offered a quieter coda to a fight week marked by pointed exchanges and a demanding championship bout.
A gesture, not a reset
The gift was a personal act between two athletes after the fight, rather than evidence that their rivalry had disappeared. Du Plessis framed it as recognition of Adesanya’s stature and the occasion they had shared. For fans, the moment showed how respect for an opponent can coexist with disagreement and a fiercely contested history.
Sources: MMA Fighting; BBC Sport; The Mac Life; UFC 305 results.
