Adesanya in tears as he slams Dricus in tense exchange: 'I'm going to kill your dreams'

Friday's UFC 305 press conference in Perth took an emotional turn when Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya clashed in a fiery verbal exchange that saw tempers flare and tears flow.

The two middleweights' simmering rivalry reached boiling point when they debated what it truly meant to be an African champion.

Tensions escalated when Adesanya was asked whether he'd take the belt back to Africa if he defeated Du Plessis.

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Before he could finish his response, the South African jumped in with a pointed remark, taking a swipe at Adesanya's childhood.

He referenced an anecdote from Adesanya in which the Nigerian-born New Zealander admitted he didn't learn to bathe himself until he was eight years old, relying instead on his family's domestic help.

The comment hit a nerve, sparking an intense back-and-forth that left Adesanya visibly shaken.

In a moment of raw emotion, Adesanya could be seen wiping tears from his face in a moment that revealed just how personal this rivalry has become.

The exchange underscored the deep-seated animosity between the two fighters, setting the stage for a showdown that promises to be as emotionally charged as it is competitive.

"He touched a subject there, because I do this for my family," a tearful Adesanya said.

"I do this for the people I love, and I will fight for you forever, I swear to God. Watch this. Look, I am a fucking human being, I am a man. I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time.

"First time I fought here (in Perth), (UFC) 221, that was February 2018. That was me making me dreams come true. Sunday, I'm going to fucking kill your dreams, bitch. I'm going to fucking kill your dreams."

Watc