Adesanya sheds tears at charged UFC 305 news conference

Israel Adesanya broke down in tears at a charged news conference before his fight against middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia on Saturday.

South Africa's Du Plessis, 30, angered former champion Adesanya by asking him if he would be "taking the servants with you" when he visits his native Nigeria and New Zealand next week.

Du Plessis' comments were in response to an interview Adesanya did this week with The Mac Life, where he mentioned having "maids" in the house when growing up.

The pair engaged in a heated exchange before Adesanya later shed a tear after spotting his family in the crowd.

"He touched a subject there because I do it for my family, I do it for the people I love. I will fight for you forever, I swear to god," said Adesanya.

"Look, I am a human being, I am a man. I can cry and whoop your ass at the same time."

Adesanya, 35, who is fighting for the first time in 11 months after taking a break from the sport, had earlier angrily responded to Du Plessis' jibe.

"Shut up, you don’t know anything about my story. You have no idea who I am," he said.

"My father, myself, had to wake up at 4am and clean the banks while my mum studied to be a nurse. Don’t speak of my story if you don’t know my story."

The contest has seen a heated build-up after Du Plessis said last year he would become the first "real African" UFC champion, clarifying that he resides on the continent while former champions Adesanya, Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou had moved elsewhere.

After winning the title in January he reiterated his claim to Adesanya during the news conference, prompting more animosity between the pair.

"You didn’t do what I did, the first residing African [champion]. You can’t change that," said Du Plessis.

Adesanya, who is aiming to become the promotion's first ever three-time middleweight champion, replied: "I will slay you like a pig".

The bout, which headlines the card at the RAC Arena, is set to be the first all-African title fight in UFC history.

The pair engaged in an intense face-off following the news conference with the crowd chanting "Izzy Izzy", before booing Du Plessis as he raised his belt in the air.