UFC 305: Tensions boil in Perth press conference as Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis face off

History beckons for Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, but the future hall of famer is not interested in taking middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ title – he wants his head.

Adesanya (24-3) would become the first three-time middleweight champion in UFC history if he defeats Du Plessis (21-2) at RAC Arena on August 18.

They will headline a bumper UFC 305 card that features several Australian and New Zealand fighters and the blockbuster fight is set to be epic.

At a tense press conference at RAC Arena on Wednesday, Adesanya declared his intentions for the South African before they shared a more than 90-second stare off afterwards.

“I’ve been here, bought the T-shirt, done it twice – it’s not really about that (the title). For me it’s about taking on the best warriors from different lands and putting them on my record,” Adesanya said.

“I’ve never beaten Dricus Du Plessis so beating him is what attracts me to this fight, not the belt.

“Those who have never ever been in our shoes will never understand that mindset. So, f… the belts, I’m coming for heads.”

There is little love lost between the two, with Adesanya continuing to claim Du Plessis discredits the other African-born UFC champions in Adesanya, Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou.

“He tried to discredit the three kings and say that he’s the real, true African champion,” Adesanya said.

“That’s a weird mindset bro … him discrediting me, Francis Ngannou and Kamaru Usman that ticked me off a little bit. So that’s what started this, but again I’ll finish it.”

Du Plessis said there was no tension for him when it came to Adesanya and denied that he discredited them.

“I get into the octagon, and I do my job. I do my business. You can be the biggest a..hole in the world, you can be the nicest guy in the world, I’m going out there to kill you and I hope you’re doing the same to me because otherwise it’s not going to be a good night for you,” he said.

“As far as discrediting, I’ve never discredited anybody. Stating fact, where do I reside? What’s my postal code? Where do I train? Where do I live? Where was I born? In South Africa. I’m still there, still training and I won this belt from South Africa.

“Quite frankly I don’t care how it rubbed him off the wrong way, I don’t care.”