There hasn’t been a fight as anticipated as Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya in all of combat sports this year.
Here we bring you all the key information ahead of the massive battle.
What time is Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya?
The main card for UFC 305 gets underway at 04:00 SAST on Sunday 18 August. However, there is no fixed time for the Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya main event. If everything runs according to plan the bout is expected to start at about 06:30 SAST.
Where can I watch Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya?
In South Africa, SuperSport hold the exclusive rights to broadcast UFC events. UFC 305 will be broadcast on SuperSport Action and SuperSport Variety.
Tale of the tape
Du Plessis is five years Adesanya’s junior and is the shorter of the two at 1.85m compared to the 1.93m Nigerian born former champ.
The champion is also at a reach disadvantage, with a wingspan of 193cm versus the challenger’s 203.2cm.
For Du Plessis it will be important to close the distance between the two down quickly when he comes forward. Adesanya can afford to wait for Du Plessis and punish him with precise strikes.
Dricus Du Plessis
AGE: 30
NICKNAME: “Stillknocks”
HEIGHT: 6ft 1ins
REACH: 76ins
STANCE: Orthodox
TRAINER: Morne Visser
FIGHTS: 23
WINS: 21
DRAWS: 0
DEFEATS: 2
LAST FIGHT: Split-decision victory vs. Sean Strickland (January 2024)
Israel Adesanya
AGE: 35
NICKNAME: “The Last Stylebender”
HEIGHT: 6ft 4ins
REACH: 80ins
STANCE: Orthodox
TRAINER: Eugene Bareman
FIGHTS: 27
WINS: 24
DRAWS: 0
DEFEATS: 3
LAST FIGHT: Unanimous decision defeat vs. Sean Strickland (September 2023)
Career records
Dricus Du Plessis
Rank: Champion
Total: 23
Wins: 21
By knockout: 9
Submission : 10
By decision: 2
Losses: 2
By knockout: 1
By submission: 1
Israel Adesanya
Rank: #2
Total: 27
Wins: 24
By knockout: 16
By decision: 8
Losses: 3
By knockout: 1
By decision: 2
What are they fighting for
Dricus du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya is for the UFC Middleweight Championship of the World but this battle is about more than that.
For Du Plessis this is about making South Africa proud.
“They wanted me to win just as bad as I wanted myself to win,” Du Plessis told UFC.com.
“So that was incredible when I arrived there. The welcoming I got, I felt so loved. That’s our country. We’re so proud of our country and when we achieve something. That’s what drives me when I get in there. I fight for something much, much bigger than myself, my own goals. It plays a role, but when I’m wearing that flag, I can’t do anything else than be exceptional, because it’s much bigger than myself.”
Adesanya has his legacy to think of an the possibility of a sharing a UFC record but this bout is personal.
“Experience (is the difference),” Adesanya said at Wednesday’s UFC 305 media day.
“A lot has happened in the last few months. I’ve had to go through some life sh*t myself. My personal life, on my social media, (I don’t show what I) go through, a lot of life stuff and a lot of soul searching and a lot of, ‘What do I want from this game?
“What do I want from life? What do I see myself? What do I want my legacy to be?’
“All these questions I have to ask myself and have honest talk to myself. Eventually I just knew when I came back, I wanted to be renewed, reinvented. I wanted to be the same animal, but a different beast.”
Who will win?
Let us know who you think will win at UFC 305 by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing [email protected] or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
