UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has claimed that he is prepared to fight Dricus du Plessis in South Africa. Images: UFC/EFC
Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya title fight set for UFC 305
Israel Adesanya confirmed that he will face Dricus Du Plessis in a middleweight title bout at UFC 305 on 17 August in Perth.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has claimed that he is prepared to fight Dricus du Plessis in South Africa. Images: UFC/EFC
Israel Adesanya has confirmed that he will face Dricus Du Plessis in a middleweight title bout at UFC 305 on 17 August.
Adesanya lost his title to Sean Strickland in September of 2023 at UFC 293 in Sydney Australia.
Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya title fight set for Perth
The Nigerian-born MMA star then took a break from the sport but given his beef with Du Plessis he was always likely to end that break if there was a chance he could settle that score.
Du Plessis would call out Adesanya after he in turn snatched the UFC middleweight title from Strickland at UFC 297 in January.
Adesanya dropped confirmation of the fight on his social media this week, revealing that he will face Du Plessis at UFC 305 which is scheduled to take place in Perth, Australia.
In a message alongside a graphic which fired back at Du Plessis’ claims that he stole Adesanya’s shine, the fighter wrote: “The SUN of Africa is the same sun that lights up our planet.
“The SUN will set and will rise again until you walk into it.
“The SUN, enjoy while it shines. Darkness falls when it’s gone.”
Adesanya has won the middleweight title in the UFC twice. He successfully defended the championship five times against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier during his first title reign. Alex Pereira overthrew him at UFC 281; nevertheless, he took revenge for the defeat in their rematch and won the title back at UFC 287.
Stylebender says he ‘has enough belts’
He has insisted that his next run in the UFC will be about settling scores not winning titles.
“I’m excited,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “It’s been a year, almost a year, like 11 months by the time I get back in the octagon. People are always like, ‘I hope you get the belt back, I hope you get the belt back.’ Like, I got belts. I don’t need anymore belts. I’m coming for heads.
“That’s what I want to do. I’m excited to come back, but everything comes at it’s own time. So, right now it’s training, chilling, working, relaxing, healing. Then when it’s time, it’s time for killing.”
Du Plessis has not fought since January, pulling out of a proposed fight at UFC 300 as he nursed an injury following his brutal war with Strickland.
Some fans and pundits have questioned the decision to hand Adesanya a title bout after he lost his championship in September and hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since.