UFC 305 is set to be a showdown full of intense emotions as UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis faces off against Israel Adesanya in Perth, Australia, on Saturday.
The highly anticipated grudge match will determine the fate of the 185-pound title, with both fighters bringing a heated rivalry into the octagon.
The tension between Adesanya and du Plessis escalated during UFC 290 in July 2023, when the then-reigning middleweight champion Adesanya had a fiery confrontation with Du Plessis after the South African fighter’s decisive victory over Robert Whittaker.
That moment marked the beginning of a bitter rivalry that has only intensified over time.
Since then, the landscape of the middleweight division has shifted dramatically.
While Adesanya was initially expected to defend his title against Du Plessis shortly after their face-off, Du Plessis’ inability to make a swift return to the cage opened the door for Sean Strickland to claim an unexpected victory over Adesanya, dethroning him as champion.
Now, Adesanya returns to the octagon for the first time since that stunning defeat, with his sights set on reclaiming the title and becoming a three-time UFC champion.
Australian MMA standout Alexander Volkanovski recently weighed in on the upcoming fight via his YouTube channel, where he predicted a knockout victory for Adesanya.
“I think Israel Adesanya is going to put on that type of performance where he gets a crazy finish,” Volkanovski stated. “I feel like something big is coming—I mean, a big finish.”
The featherweight champion drew parallels between this fight and Adesanya’s dominant TKO win over Paulo Costa, hinting at the potential for another highlight-reel moment.
Despite having lost two of his last three bouts, Adesanya is determined to regain the middleweight crown he lost in a surprising upset to Sean Strickland in 2023.
Du Plessis, on the other hand, capitalized on that moment, defeating Strickland to become the new champion.
Volkanovski acknowledged du Plessis’ unpredictable and unconventional fighting style but expressed confidence that Adesanya has evolved since his last setback.
“Dricus is very awkward, very unorthodox,” Volkanovski noted. “But that doesn’t happen to Izzy twice. There’s no way that fight looks the same.”
However, Volkanovski did offer a word of caution, highlighting du Plessis’ grappling expertise as a potential threat, stating, “Dricus is very strong, wrestler, grappler. Izzy is going to have to be careful of Dricus trying to take him down because I think he’s going to have that freakish strength and chokes as well.”
As the fight draws nearer, betting odds slightly favour Adesanya, reflecting the belief shared by many that he will rise to the occasion.
Adesanya himself has underscored the personal significance of this bout, declaring, “Beating Dricus is more important to me than getting the belt back. This fight is about history.”
The UFC 305 main event is shaping up to be an electrifying battle, with Adesanya eager to etch his name in history as the division’s first three-time champion, while du Plessis aims to solidify his reign as the new king of the middleweight division.
