Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya: Get Ready for UFC 305
Israel Adesanya, known as ‘The Last Stylebender,’ will make a thrilling return this weekend to challenge UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305. Adesanya’s aim to reclaim the 185-lb title for the third time after a surprising defeat to Sean Strickland last September has sparked a wave of anticipation among fans.
Du Plessis (21-2, 9 KOs), a formidable opponent, secured the championship by defeating Strickland in January, which marks his first title defence.
Adesanya (24-3, 16 KOs) has been eager to face ‘Stillknocks’ in the octagon, stating that this fight means more to him than just regaining the title.
Their rivalry intensified after a racially charged confrontation at UFC 290 in July 2023, setting the stage for this long-awaited showdown.
Dricus Du Plessis vs Israel Adesanya: Date and How to Follow
The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 17, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, a location that holds significant importance in the UFC circuit. This connection to the venue adds extra excitement for the fans. UK fans can catch the main card at 3 a.m. on Sunday.
The action will be broadcast exclusively on TNT Sports and Discovery+ in the UK, giving viewers a sense of privilege. Early prelims can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass and TNT Sports 2.
UFC 305: Undercard (Subject to change)
Main card:
Dricus du Plessis (c) vs. Israel Adesanya – UFC Middleweight Championship
Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
Tai Tuivasa vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates
Preliminary card:
Junior Tafa vs. Valter Walker
Joshua Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
Casey O’Neill vs. Luana Santos
Jack Jenkins vs. Herbert Burns
Early preliminary card:
Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
Song Kenan vs. Ricky Glenn
Stewart Nicoll vs. Jesus Santos Aguilar
UFC 305: The Latest!
Adesanya emphasized that defeating Du Plessis is more critical than reclaiming the UFC title, stating on the UFC 305 Countdown show: “Beating Dricus is more important to me than getting the belt back. This fight is about history.”
Du Plessis, meanwhile, has expressed that Sean Strickland will have to wait for another title shot, as the rebooked Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev fight will determine the next challenger. He said, “The winner of Khamzat and Whittaker will get the title shot… Strickland says he’s going to wait until he gets a title shot. He’s going to wait for quite a while.”
