Victorious over Robert Whittaker this Saturday evening at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, South African Dricus Du Plessis will be the next challenger to UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Who stepped into the octagon to launch hostilities against a backdrop of discourse around skin color and belonging to Africa.

"This is my African brother right here, let's go n*gga, what's up b*tch?" Adesanya yelled during their UFC 290 face-off. "Let's go n*gga, here n*gga. Wassup n*gga? Yeah, my African brother!"

Not one to take no for an answer, "Izzy" promised to "drag his carcass all over South Africa" and "beat the shit out of him until he turns black". Good vibes... which took on a few extra degrees in Las Vegas. As Du Pessis debriefed his victory on Joe Rogan's microphone, Adesanya asked to step into the cage. Once the microphone was in his hand, the name-calling began in earnest.

Dana White doesn't care about Adesanya's verbal abuse

While fight fans were either critical or just completely confused by Adesanya's ridiculous tirade, UFC President Dana White couldn't possibly care any less. Asked about the repeated use of the N-word while addressing Du Plessis during the pay-per-view, White said:

"He's black. Who gives a sh*t? I could care less, this is the fight business," White said at the UFC 290 post-fight press event. "Israel Adesanya can say whatever he wants to say".

Prior to this Saturday's fight, Adesanya was rumoured to be defending his title on September 9 in Sidney, at UFC 293. If he's taken some good shots against Whittaker, the new challenger could be in for it if he's feeling up to it.

The affair would then take place in two months' time. That's more than enough time to turn a fight into a clash that will go far beyond the sporting and pull on some explosive heartstrings.

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